Question 209 of 480
The weight of 10 pupils in a class are 15 kg, 16 kg, 17 kg, 18 kg, 16 kg, 17 kg, 17 kg, 17 kg, 18 kg, and 16 kg. What is the range of this distribution?
Correct Answer:
B
Explanation
To find the range of a distribution, we need to understand what the range represents. The range is a measure of how spread out the values in a data set are. It is calculated by subtracting the smallest value in the data set from the largest value.
### Step-by-Step Explanation
1. **Identify the Data Set**:
The weights of the 10 pupils are:
- 15 kg
- 16 kg
- 17 kg
- 18 kg
- 16 kg
- 17 kg
- 17 kg
- 17 kg
- 18 kg
- 16 kg
2. **Find the Maximum Value**:
To find the maximum value, we look for the highest weight in the list.
- The weights are: 15, 16, 17, 18, 16, 17, 17, 17, 18, 16.
- The maximum weight is **18 kg**.
3. **Find the Minimum Value**:
Next, we need to find the minimum value, which is the lowest weight in the list.
- The minimum weight is **15 kg**.
4. **Calculate the Range**:
Now that we have both the maximum and minimum values, we can calculate the range using the formula:
\[
\text{Range} = \text{Maximum Value} - \text{Minimum Value}
\]
Substituting the values we found:
\[
\text{Range} = 18 \, \text{kg} - 15 \, \text{kg} = 3 \, \text{kg}
\]
### Conclusion
The range of the distribution of the weights of the pupils is **3 kg**. Therefore, the correct option is **B**.
### Explanation of Other Options
- **Option A (4)**: This option suggests that the range is 4 kg. However, since the maximum weight is 18 kg and the minimum is 15 kg, the difference is only 3 kg, making this option incorrect.
- **Option C (1)**: This option indicates a range of 1 kg. This is incorrect because the difference between the maximum and minimum weights is much larger than 1 kg.
- **Option D (2)**: This option suggests a range of 2 kg. Again, this is incorrect as the calculated range is 3 kg, not 2 kg.
### Common Pitfalls
- **Misidentifying Maximum and Minimum**: Always double-check to ensure you have correctly identified the maximum and minimum values from the data set.
- **Calculation Errors**: Be careful with subtraction; itβs easy to make a mistake when calculating the range if you rush through the arithmetic.
### Revision Summary
- The range is calculated as the difference between the maximum and minimum values in a data set.
- For the given weights, the maximum is 18 kg and the minimum is 15 kg.
- The range is \( 18 \, \text{kg} - 15 \, \text{kg} = 3 \, \text{kg} \).
- The correct answer is **B (3)**, as it accurately reflects the calculated range.