Certified Pennsylvania Evaluator Practice Exam

What is the term for the difference between the largest and smallest number?

1. Variance

2. Range

3. Interval

4. Deviation

The correct answer is: Range

The term that describes the difference between the largest and smallest number in a given set of data is known as the range. The range provides a simple measure of dispersion or spread within a data set, encapsulating how much the values deviate from one another. By taking the maximum value and subtracting the minimum value, you obtain the range, which helps to summarize the extent of variation in the data. In contrast, variance measures the average of the squared differences from the mean, providing insight into how far the values in the data set are spread out from the mean, but it is not simply the difference between the largest and smallest numbers. An interval generally refers to a range of values between two endpoints rather than quantifying the difference between the largest and smallest numbers. Deviation often refers to how a single data point differs from the mean or expected value, rather than a measure of overall spread in the data set.