advanced · TRADING LEARNING GUIDE
Body versus full range
What is this concept?
Body is absolute close minus open. Range is high minus low. Their ratio describes shape, not the direction of a future return; wicks preserve intrabar movement.
Step by step
Compute body and range separately. Handle zero range explicitly and compare ratios only with matching definitions and completed bars.
From observation to decision
Record the instrument, venue, session and timeframe. Classify the observation using the definition, then write at least one alternative interpretation. Decide what evidence would invalidate your idea before entry. Mark missing information explicitly. Examples are hypothetical. Collect paper observations, including failures. Include fees, spread, slippage and timestamp alignment when measuring outcomes. Recognizing a chart shape and establishing a profitable trading rule are separate tasks.
Worked example
O100 C102 H110 L95 gives body/range 2/15≈13.3%. H102.2 L99.8 with the same open and close gives 2/2.4≈83.3%. Equal net moves can have very different shapes.
Common mistakes and limits
Do not use body as a substitute for volatility or divide by zero range.
Practice
Find candles with equal bodies but different ranges. Calculate their wick lengths and body percentages.
Resources and further reading
These sources explain definitions and underlying mechanics. Worked examples are original illustrations; a source does not establish the profitability of a custom pattern.
Further reading / foundational context. Worked examples on this page are original illustrations, not source performance claims.