What is the range of a data set in Python?

The range of a data set in Python is the difference between the maximum and minimum values.

Here's how you can calculate the range in Python:

1. Using the max() and min() functions:

   data = [10, 5, 20, 15, 30]
   range_of_data = max(data) - min(data)
   print(range_of_data)  # Output: 25

2. Using the numpy library:

   import numpy as np
   
   data = np.array([10, 5, 20, 15, 30])
   range_of_data = np.ptp(data)
   print(range_of_data)  # Output: 25

The ptp() function in NumPy calculates the peak-to-peak value, which is equivalent to the range of the data set.

Practical Insights:

• The range is a simple measure of dispersion, indicating the spread of the data.
• It is sensitive to outliers, meaning extreme values can significantly affect the range.
• The range is often used in conjunction with other measures of dispersion like variance and standard deviation to provide a more complete picture of the data distribution.