Step by step
The question
Question: find the range of −3, 8, 2 and −6.
Range of −3, 8, 2, −6
The range shows how spread out the numbers are: the biggest minus the smallest.
range = biggest − smallest
1 Put them in order
Numbers below 0 are smaller than 0.
The further below 0, the smaller they are.
below 0 = smaller: −6 < −3 < 0
First we put them in order, smallest first: −6, −3, 2 and 8.
= −6, −3, 2, 8
We still have 4 numbers.
None is lost.
4 numbers ✓
2 Smallest and biggest
In order, the smallest is first and the biggest is last.
The smallest is −6.
The biggest is 8.
= smallest = −6, biggest = 8
3 Take away
The range is the biggest minus the smallest.
= range = 8 − (−6)
Taking away a negative number is the same as adding.
− (−) = +
So 8 minus −6 is 8 plus 6.
= range = 8 + 6
8 plus 6 is 14.
= range = 14
Let's look back.
First: put them in order.
Then: smallest and biggest.
Last: take away.
Answer
= range = 14