In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Robert J. MacG. Dawson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes > > >jeff rasmussen wrote: >> >> Dear statistically-enamored, >> >> There was a question in my undergrad class concerning how to >>define the >> range, where a student pointed out that contrary to my edict, the range was >> "the difference between the maximum & minimum". I'd always believed that >> the correct answer was the "difference between the maximum & minimum plus >> one" > > One what? Any statistic that depends on the units used seems rather >arbitrary to me. If I compute the range of weights of a group of people >(in kilograms) I ought to get the same actual *weight* as an American >using pounds or a Brit using stones.
On a lighter note - sorry - Brits can't use stones as however reluctantly we are now metricated. Selling things in pounds and stones is against the law - though I suppose that using the measure is not - yet! I just tell students I'm B.C. - Before Centimetres. - Jonathan Robbins > > Suppose I have three meter sticks - are you telling us that the range >of their lengths is a little over one meter? > > I'm afraid I vote with your students. > > -Robert Dawson > > >================================================================= >Instructions for joining and leaving this list and remarks about >the problem of INAPPROPRIATE MESSAGES are available at > http://jse.stat.ncsu.edu/ >================================================================= ================================================================= Instructions for joining and leaving this list and remarks about the problem of INAPPROPRIATE MESSAGES are available at http://jse.stat.ncsu.edu/ =================================================================
