In Excel or Google Sheets, range for the sample data is =MAX(C2:C31)-MIN(C2:C31). It returns 39.
Range = Largest value − Smallest value
Step by step
- Download daily.csv below and open it in Excel (File → Open) or Google Sheets (File → Import). Columns: A day, B ad_spend, C website_orders, D app_orders, E avg_basket; data in rows 2 to 31.
- Click an empty cell and enter =MAX(C2:C31)-MIN(C2:C31).
- Check the result against 39. If it differs, check that the ranges cover rows 2 to 31 and that no cell holds text instead of a number.
The formula
=MAX(C2:C31)-MIN(C2:C31)Expected result on the sample data: 39.
What the result means
Because it depends only on the two most extreme values, the range is mostly a pointer to them. Here the maximum is the one-day sale on day 17. Leave that day out and the range shrinks to less than half, which tells you the rest of the month was fairly steady. Reporting the range with and without the extreme day is a quick, honest summary.
Notes for Excel
- Google Sheets supports the same function names. In locales that use a comma as the decimal separator, separate arguments with semicolons.
- Excel functions skip blank cells and text but include zeros. A missing day typed as 0 changes the answer; leave it blank if it is unknown.
Where range misleads
- One outlier sets the whole range. Use the interquartile range for a robust view of spread.
- The range grows with the number of rows: more days give more chances of an extreme one.
- Check that the extremes are real and not data-entry errors before reporting it.
The plain-language explanation is on the Range page.
The data
| day | website_orders |
|---|---|
| 1 | 24 |
| 2 | 27 |
| 3 | 22 |
| 4 | 30 |
| 5 | 28 |
| 6 | 25 |
| 7 | 31 |
| 8 | 29 |
| 9 | 26 |
| 10 | 33 |
| 11 | 30 |
| 12 | 28 |
| 13 | 35 |
| 14 | 32 |
| 15 | 29 |
| 16 | 34 |
| 17 | 61 |
| 18 | 31 |
| 19 | 36 |
| 20 | 33 |
| 21 | 30 |
| 22 | 37 |
| 23 | 35 |
| 24 | 32 |
| 25 | 38 |
| 26 | 36 |
| 27 | 34 |
| 28 | 40 |
| 29 | 37 |
| 30 | 39 |
Same method, other tools
Related methods
Learn more about Excel
About the data on this page
The figures come from a small made-up dataset, printed above in full so you can check every number by hand. Download it as daily.csv. The results are computed from those rows when the page is built, and the Excel formulas, SQL and Python on these pages are run against the same rows before publishing, so the code and the answers agree.
To get these numbers from your own data without writing formulas, try AnalyzeIt: ask in plain words and it shows the working behind every figure.
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