What does the range in a data set indicate?

The range in a data set is defined as the difference between the largest and smallest data points. This measurement provides insight into how spread out the values in a data set are, indicating the extent of variation among them. By calculating the range, one can understand the breadth of the data and how the extreme values relate to the overall set.

For instance, if the maximum value in a data set is 20 and the minimum value is 5, the range would be 20 - 5, which equals 15. This information is particularly useful in many analytical contexts, as it highlights how much variability exists, which can affect interpretations of the data. Other measures such as average, variance, or overall trend do not represent this specific spatial relationship between the highest and lowest data points.