Algebra 1 : How to find range

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Algebra 1

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Find Range

We want to create a three digit code for a combination lock.  Only digits from 0-9 are allowed and digits can be repeated.  How many such codes can be generated?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 3^{10}\)

\(\displaystyle 10^{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 10^{4}\)

\(\displaystyle 10^{3}\)

\(\displaystyle 10\times 9\times 8\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 10^{3}\)

Explanation:

The first position can be filled 10 ways and since repetition is allowed, the 2nd position can be filled in 10 ways and similarly the third position can be filled in 10 ways as well, giving us the correct answer of

\(\displaystyle 10^{3}\)

Example Question #2 : How To Find Range

You are given the following number set:

2, 8, 3, 6, 9, 10, 5

Find the range.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 9\)

\(\displaystyle 10\)

\(\displaystyle 5\)

\(\displaystyle 8\)

\(\displaystyle 7\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 8\)

Explanation:

The range is the difference between the lowest and the highest number in the number set.

The lowest number in the number set is 2 while the highest number is 10. Therefore, the range is calculated as

\(\displaystyle 10-2=8\)

So 8 is the range.

Example Question #1 : How To Find Range

Evaluate:

\(\displaystyle C\binom{5}{3}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 10\)

\(\displaystyle 15\)

\(\displaystyle 5\)

\(\displaystyle 60\)

\(\displaystyle 120\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 10\)

Explanation:

This is a combination problem.  All we need to solve this problem is the combination formula: \(\displaystyle C\binom{n}{k}=\frac{n!}{k!(n-k)!}\)

\(\displaystyle C\binom{5}{3} = \frac{5!}{2!\times 3!}\)

Now \(\displaystyle 5! = 5\times 4\times 3\times 2\times\times 1\)

\(\displaystyle 3!= 3\times 2\times 1\)

and \(\displaystyle 2! = 2\times 1\)

Instead of finding answers for all of these factorials, notice that they have many of the same terms and can therefore be cancelled.

\(\displaystyle \frac{5\times 4\times3\times2\times1}{3\times2\times1\times2\times1}=\frac{5\times4}{2}=5\times2=10\)

 

Example Question #3 : How To Find Range

A teacher is grading quizzes and recording the scores in her records.  The scores are recorded as follows: 81, 91, 83, 88, 74, 98, 81, 94, 68, 92, 77, 79, 83, 91, 81, 84, 85, 81, 85, 79, 83, 81, 83.

What is the range?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 77\)

\(\displaystyle 20\)

\(\displaystyle 83\)

\(\displaystyle 30\)

\(\displaystyle 32\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 30\)

Explanation:

The range of the statistics is simply the difference between the largest value and the smallest value.

The largest number in the set is 98, and the smallest number is 68.

Subtract to find the range:

\(\displaystyle 98-68=30\)

Example Question #4 : How To Find Range

\(\displaystyle \left \{ 89, 98, 77, 92, 93 \right \}\)

Given the set of test scores, what is the range?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 12\)

\(\displaystyle 21\)

\(\displaystyle 16\)

\(\displaystyle 9\)

\(\displaystyle 1\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 21\)

Explanation:

The range is the difference between the smallest number and the largest number. The smallest value is 77, and the largest is 98.

98 – 77 = 21

Example Question #4 : Range

The range of the following data set is 18. What is a possible value for \(\displaystyle x\)?

\(\displaystyle \left \{ 3, -5, 7, 7, 5, 10, x, 1, -2 \right \}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle x = -13\)

Cannot be determined

\(\displaystyle x=10\)

\(\displaystyle x=0\)

\(\displaystyle x=-8\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle x=-8\)

Explanation:

Arrange the known values in the set in numerical order: {–5, –2, 1, 3, 5, 7, 7, 10}. The range is the difference between the largest value and smallest value.

x must be either the largest or the smallest value in the set.

range = x – smallest value

18 = x – (–5)

18 = x + 5

13 = x

OR

range = largest value – x

18 = 10 – x

8 = –x

–8 = x

Example Question #3 : How To Find Range

Hours_chart

The above chart shows a specific week of work at an advertising firm.  What is the range of the hourly rates of the workers?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \$20\)

\(\displaystyle \$25\)

\(\displaystyle \$40\)

\(\displaystyle \$30\)

\(\displaystyle \$35\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \$25\)

Explanation:

The range is difference between the largest value and the smallest value.

\(\displaystyle Largest=\$40\)

\(\displaystyle Smallest=\$15\)

\(\displaystyle Range=Largest-Smallest=\$40-\$15=\$25\)

Example Question #3 : Data Properties

What is the range of the set \(\displaystyle \left \{ -2,6,13,25,-2,4,11\right \}\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -2\)

\(\displaystyle 27\)

\(\displaystyle 6\)

\(\displaystyle 7.9\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 27\)

Explanation:

The range is defined as the difference between the highest and lowest numbers in a set. Here, the highest number is \(\displaystyle 25\) and the lowest is \(\displaystyle -2\)

Therefore, the range is

 \(\displaystyle 25 - (-2)=27\)

\(\displaystyle -2\) is the mode, \(\displaystyle 7.9\) is the mean, and 6 is the median.

Example Question #5 : How To Find Range

In the set of numbers, what is the range?  \(\displaystyle b=(1,9,10,2,3,-3,-5,8)\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 13\)

\(\displaystyle 7\)

\(\displaystyle 9\)

\(\displaystyle 15\)

\(\displaystyle 5\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 15\)

Explanation:

To determine the range of this data set, take the largest number and subtract it with the smallest number.

The largest number in the set is ten.

The smallest number in the set is \(\displaystyle -5\).

Subtract both numbers.

\(\displaystyle 10-(-5)= 10+5=15\)

Example Question #4 : How To Find Range

Find the range of the following set of numbers. 

\(\displaystyle 24, 4, 52, 39, 23, 25, 48, 12, 4\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 4\)

\(\displaystyle 44\)

\(\displaystyle 48\)

\(\displaystyle 56\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 48\)

Explanation:

Subtract the lowest number (4) from the highest (52) to get 48.

\(\displaystyle 24, 4, {\color{Red}{52}}, 39, 23, 25, 48, 12, {\color{Red} 4}\)

\(\displaystyle 52-4=48\) 

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors