Finding the range of a data set by subtracting the smallest value from the largest.
Where your child meets this in real life: Understanding spread of data - temperature ranges, price variations, or score differences
SEAGReady breaks calculate the range into 2 steps, taught in order so each skill builds on the last.
Calculate the range from a small data set already arranged in order
Calculate the range from a data set where values are not arranged in order
Three free sample questions from our calculate the range course. Every question comes with a full explanation, and hints that guide without giving the answer away.
Aoife recorded the temperatures in Derry each day for a week. The temperatures in order were: 6°C, 9°C, 11°C, 13°C, 18°C. What is the range of temperatures?
Answer: A. 12°C
The data is already in order. Smallest = 6°C (first value) Largest = 18°C (last value) Range = largest - smallest = 18 - 6 = 12°C
Stuck? Start here: The range tells us how spread out the data is. What are the smallest and largest values?
Sean scored these points in his last 5 GAA matches: 18, 12, 25, 9, 21. What is the range of his scores?
Answer: A. 16
Scan for smallest: 18, 12, 25, 9, 21 - Smallest = 9 Scan for largest: 18, 12, 25, 9, 21 - Largest = 25 Range = largest - smallest = 25 - 9 = 16 points
Stuck? Start here: First, scan all the values to find the smallest and the largest.
A P6 class recorded their spelling test scores in order: 5, 7, 8, 9, 10. What is the range of scores?
Answer: A. 5
The data is already in order. Smallest = 5 (first value) Largest = 10 (last value) Range = largest - smallest = 10 - 5 = 5
Stuck? Start here: The range is ONE number, not two. What operation do you need?
This is the exact interactive worked example your child sees in SEAGReady. Step through it and watch the method build up.
Niamh recorded the temperatures in Belfast each day for a week. The temperatures in order were: 8°C, 10°C, 12°C, 14°C, 17°C.
What is the range of temperatures?
17 − 8
Step 1 of 3
Niamh recorded the temperatures in Belfast each day for a week. The temperatures in order were: 8°C, 10°C, 12°C, 14°C, 17°C.
What is the range of temperatures?
The range of temperatures is 9°C.
The key insight: The range is ONE number showing the spread, not two numbers!
Watch out: Range is 8 and 17. The range is the difference between them, not both values listed.
These are the misconceptions we see most often in calculate the range, including the ones our practice questions are specifically designed to catch.
Struggling with calculate the range? The real gap is often in one of these earlier topics.
SEAGReady finds the exact step where your child gets stuck, teaches it with worked examples like the one above, and brings it back for review so it sticks.