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Hey, it’s Chip! Today, we’re going to talk about the types of numeric data. 🤓
There are two types of numeric data: interval and ratio. 🔢
Interval data is data in which the distance between units is the same, but there is no absolute zero. 🤔 Think of the temperature scale – the distance between 50°F and 60°F is the same as the distance between 80°F and 90°F. However, there is no absolute zero on the temperature scale – zero degrees Fahrenheit does not represent an absence of temperature. ❄️
On the other hand, ratio data is data in which the distance between values is the same, and there is an absolute zero, which makes it possible to compare one value to another as a multiple. 😲 For example, weight is an example of ratio data – if someone weighs 100 pounds and another person weighs 200 pounds, you can say that the second person weighs twice as much as the first person. 🏋️♀️
Another example of ratio data is time – if someone completes a task in 5 minutes and another person completes the same task in 10 minutes, you can say that the second person took twice as long as the first person. 🕰️
In summary, interval data is data in which the distance between units is the same, but there is no absolute zero. In contrast, ratio data is data in which there is an absolute zero, which makes it possible to compare one value to another as a multiple. Knowing the type of numeric data you are working with can help you better analyze and understand your data. 💡