Range and Variance on GMAT

Quick Summary

Range and variance describe spread. Range is largest minus smallest. For −2, 0, 3, 7: range is 7 − (−2) = 9. Variance is (standard deviation)² and grows with spread. 4, 5, 6 is tighter than 1, 5, 9, so 4, 5, 6 has smaller variance.

Overview

Understanding how data is spread out is essential to Quantitative Reasoning as well as Data Insights on the GMAT. Two of the simplest measures that help us understand this spread are range and variance. These measures are often tested in GMAT questions, not through lengthy calculations but by checking whether you can reason about data correctly. The range is the simplest way to measure variability. It captures the difference between the largest and the smallest values in a set. On the other hand, variance, which is the square of standard deviation, gives a more comprehensive sense of how values are spread across the set. While range is quick to compute, variance provides a deeper mathematical measure of diversity. Both of these ideas are straightforward but very powerful once mastered. Our GMAT preparation course and GMAT practice tests are designed to help you build this clarity and strengthen your problem-solving intuition.

 

Understanding Range and Variance on the GMAT

Range

The range of a set is defined as the difference between the greatest and the smallest observation in that set.

Range = Maximum – Minimum

Where,

Range: The distance between the largest and smallest values. It shows how wide the data spreads.

Maximum: The largest value in the list.

Minimum: The smallest value in the list.

For example, consider the data set −100, −20, 0, 50, 200.

The greatest value here is 200 and the smallest is −100.

The range is therefore 200 − (−100) = 300.

The range gives a quick picture of how widely values are spread, but it is highly sensitive to extreme values.

Variance

Variance is another measure of spread. It is defined as the square of the standard deviation.

V = σ²

Where,

V: Variation of a dataset

σ: Standard deviation of the dataset

While standard deviation gives the average deviation of values from the mean, variance emphasizes the magnitude of deviations by squaring them. This makes variance a useful measure when understanding the overall diversity in a data set.

 

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Why Range and Variance Matter for GMAT Preparation

Although the GMAT will not ask you to compute range or variance directly in a complex way, questions often test whether you know what these terms mean and how they behave. For example, you may be asked whether increasing each value in a set by the same constant changes the range (it does not) or how variance compares when data points are scaled. Such reasoning saves time and ensures accuracy. Mastering these insights is part of developing a strong conceptual foundation for GMAT Data Insights. That is why practicing them through GMAT simulation is essential for building both clarity and confidence.

Parting Thought

Range teaches us to respect extremes; variance teaches us to manage them. In GMAT preparation, widen your vision but narrow your fluctuations: study broadly, then stabilize performance through deliberate practice and full length mocks, raising the average while reducing swings. In MBA admissions, present a profile whose peaks and valleys make sense together: consistent values, coherent stories, measured growth. In life, stretch toward challenge without living at the edges. Build routines that calm volatility and lift your baseline. Notice when energy scatters, and return to focus. Master the spread thoughtfully, and progress becomes steady, dignified, and deeply your own.