Stretch: Describing How Spread Out Data Is
I can describe the spread of a data set using the range and the idea of the middle group.
🧠 The Challenge
rangespreadmiddle halfvariability
Range = highest − lowest measures total spread. The middle half of the data (between the lower and upper quarters) shows where most values sit — a more stable measure of spread.
👀 Worked Example
Data: 3, 5, 6, 7, 20. Range = 20 − 3 = 17 (large, because of the 20). Most values cluster between 5 and 7.
✏️ Your Turn
0 of 3 checks complete
1. Data 4, 9, 12: the range is…
2. A larger range means the data is…
3. Which data set is MORE spread out? A: 10,11,12 B: 2,11,20
💬 Explain Your Thinking
Describe the spread of a data set in your own words:
"The range is blank. The data is blank (spread out / clustered) because blank."