Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
In statistics, the range is the simplest measure of dispersion or spread in a dataset.
It measures the total distance between the largest and smallest observations in the sample.
Key Formula or Approach:
The range ($R$) of a dataset is calculated using the formula:
\[ R = X_{\text{max}} - X_{\text{min}} \]
where:
- $X_{\text{max}}$ is the maximum value in the dataset.
- $X_{\text{min}}$ is the minimum value in the dataset.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us identify the values in the given dataset:
Dataset: $9$, $13$, $15$, $17$, $19$, $21$, $28$, $8$, $34$.
Find the maximum and minimum values:
- Maximum value ($X_{\text{max}}$) $= 34$
- Minimum value ($X_{\text{min}}$) $= 8$
Calculate the range:
\[ R = 34 - 8 = 26 \]
Therefore, the range of the dataset is $26$.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The range of the given dataset is $26$.
Hence, the correct option is (B).