Question

there are ten bird baths in a park. on the first day of spring, the bird baths are filled. several weeks later, the overall change in the water level is found. the results are shown in the table. what is the range of the data?

the overall change in the amount of water is □ gallons.

Explanation:

Step1: Find the maximum and minimum values

The maximum value in the data set is \(2.4\) (since \(- 0.923,-1.922,2.4,-2.214,-1.526,-1.7\), the positive number \(2.4\) is the largest). The minimum value is \(-2.214\) (comparing the negative numbers: \(\vert-2.214\vert = 2.214\), \(\vert-1.922\vert=1.922\), \(\vert-1.7\vert = 1.7\), \(\vert-1.526\vert=1.526\), \(\vert-0.923\vert = 0.923\), and for negative numbers, the one with the larger absolute value is smaller).

Step2: Calculate the range

The formula for the range \(R\) of a data set is \(R=\text{Max}-\text{Min}\). Substitute \(\text{Max} = 2.4\) and \(\text{Min}=-2.214\) into the formula: \(R=2.4-(-2.214)\). Using the rule \(a - (-b)=a + b\), we get \(R=2.4 + 2.214\).

$$2.4+2.214=4.614$$

Answer:

\(4.614\)