How To Calculate Range Spread

Range spread is a basic statistical calculation that goes along with mean, median, mode and range. The range is the difference between the highest and lowest scores in a data set and is the simplest measure of spread. So, we calculate range as the maximum value minus the minimum value. The range spread then uses the range to find a percentage that the maximum is greater than the minimum, using the minimum as a base. Basically, this simply shows in percentage form how much higher the maximum is from the minimum.

Step 1

Find the maximum and minimum numbers in the data set. For example, a data set has 500,000 as the maximum and 350,000 as the minimum.

Step 2

Subtract the minimum from the maximum. This is the range. In the example, 500,000 minus 350,000 equals 150,000.

Step 3

Divide the range by the minimum to find the range spread. In the example, 150,000 divided by 350,000 equals 0.4285 or 42.85 percent.