Problem-Solving and Data AnalysisEasyRange of a data set
Problem-Solving and Data Analysis practice question
The list below shows the number of hours each of 6 volunteers worked at a food bank last month.
12, 7, 15, 9, 20, 11
What is the range of the number of hours worked by these 6 volunteers?
Answer: 13
The range is the greatest value minus the least value: 20 − 7 = 13. Common errors: reporting 20 (only the maximum), reporting 12.33 or 12 (computing the mean, 74/6 ≈ 12.33, instead of the range), or reporting 11.5 (the median of the ordered list 7, 9, 11, 12, 15, 20, which is (11+12)/2 = 11.5).
Common wrong answers
- If you answered 20
- That's only the greatest value; the range is greatest minus least, 20 − 7.
- If you answered 12.33
- You computed the mean (74/6 ≈ 12.33) instead of the range, which is 20 − 7.
- If you answered 11.5
- That's the median of the ordered list 7, 9, 11, 12, 15, 20, not the range; subtract the least value from the greatest: 20 − 7.
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