Steps to find the range of numbers for Grade 6 math

📚 Understanding the Range: A Kid-Friendly Explanation

In math, the range tells us how spread out a set of numbers is. It's the difference between the biggest and smallest number in a group. Think of it like this: if you measured the heights of all your friends, the range would show you how much taller the tallest friend is compared to the shortest one.

📜 A Little History (It's Not That Old!)

The concept of range has been used in statistics for a long time, though it wasn't always called the "range." As people started collecting and analyzing data, they needed ways to understand the spread of the information. While specific origins are tough to pinpoint, the use of range as a simple measure of variability became common in early statistical practices.

⭐ Key Principles: How to Find the Range

• 🔍 Identify the Largest Number: Look through your list of numbers and find the biggest one.
• 🔢 Identify the Smallest Number: Now, find the smallest number in the same list.
• ➖ Subtract: Subtract the smallest number from the largest number. The answer is the range!

🧮 Example Time! Let's Calculate

Let's say you have these numbers: 5, 2, 9, 1, 5

1. Largest number: 9
2. Smallest number: 1
3. Range: 9 - 1 = 8

So, the range of the numbers 5, 2, 9, 1, 5 is 8!

➕ Range with Negative Numbers

Don't be scared of negative numbers! The process is the same. Remember that negative numbers are smaller than positive numbers, and the further they are from zero, the smaller they are.

Example: -3, 0, 4, -5, 2

1. Largest number: 4
2. Smallest number: -5
3. Range: 4 - (-5) = 4 + 5 = 9

🌍 Real-World Examples: Where Do We Use Range?

• 🌡️ Temperature: Finding the difference between the highest and lowest temperature in a day.
• 📏 Heights: Calculating the spread in heights of students in a class.
• 💰 Money: Determining the difference between the most and least expensive item in a store.

💡 Tips and Tricks for Range Success

• 📝 Write it Down: Re-writing the numbers in order from smallest to largest can help you easily spot the largest and smallest values.
• ✔️ Double Check: Always double check that you've identified the correct largest and smallest numbers before subtracting.
• ➗ Careful with Negatives: Be super careful with subtracting negative numbers. Remember, subtracting a negative is like adding!

✍️ Practice Quiz: Test Your Range Skills

Find the range for each set of numbers:

1. 12, 18, 7, 21, 10
2. -4, 6, -2, 0, 8
3. 15, 15, 15, 15, 15

📈 Advanced Challenge

A group of friends scored the following points in a game: 25, 30, 18, 22, and 25. What is the range of their scores?

✅ Solutions

1. 21 - 7 = 14
2. 8 - (-4) = 12
3. 15 - 15 = 0
4. 30 - 18 = 12

🎓 Conclusion: You're a Range Rockstar!

Finding the range is a simple yet powerful way to understand how spread out a group of numbers is. With a little practice, you'll be finding the range in no time!