What is the measure that describes the difference between the highest and lowest values in a data set?

The measure that describes the difference between the highest and lowest values in a data set is the range. The range provides a simple quantification of variability in the data, allowing one to understand the spread of values within that set. By calculating the range, you take the maximum value and subtract the minimum value, resulting in a single number that indicates how much the data values vary from one another.

This measure is particularly useful in descriptive statistics when you want to summarize the extent of the data without delving into more complex calculations. The range gives an immediate visual impression of dispersion and is foundational for understanding data distribution, essential for further statistical analysis.

While standard deviation also measures variability, it does so in a different way, as it assesses the average deviation of each data point from the mean. Probability deals with the likelihood of events occurring, and a Venn diagram is a visual tool used to show relationships between different sets, none of which describe the spread of values in a data set.