3. Describing Data Numerically
Describing Data Numerically Using a Graphing Calculator
2:29 minutesProblem 12.CRE.1e
Textbook Question
In Exercises 1–5, refer to the following list of numbers of years that deceased U.S. presidents, popes, and British monarchs lived after their inauguration, election, or coronation, respectively. (As of this writing, the last president is George H. W. Bush, the last pope is John Paul II, and the last British monarch is George VI.) Assume that the data are samples from larger populations.
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Exploring the Data Include appropriate units in all answers.
e. What is the level of measurement of the data (nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio)?
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand the levels of measurement. There are four levels of measurement in statistics: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio. Each level provides different types of information about the data.
Step 2: Analyze the data provided. The data represents the number of years that deceased U.S. presidents, popes, and British monarchs lived after their inauguration, election, or coronation. These are numerical values.
Step 3: Determine if the data has a true zero point. Since the data represents the number of years lived after a specific event, it has a meaningful zero point (e.g., 0 years lived after the event). This indicates that the data is at least at the ratio level.
Step 4: Check if the data allows for meaningful ratios. For example, if one individual lived 20 years after their inauguration and another lived 10 years, the ratio (20/10 = 2) is meaningful. This confirms that the data is at the ratio level.
Step 5: Conclude that the level of measurement for this data is 'ratio,' as it is numerical, has a true zero point, and allows for meaningful ratios.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Levels of Measurement
Levels of measurement refer to the different ways data can be categorized and analyzed. There are four primary levels: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio. Nominal data are categories without a specific order, ordinal data have a defined order but no consistent difference between values, interval data have meaningful differences but no true zero point, and ratio data have both meaningful differences and a true zero, allowing for the comparison of absolute magnitudes.
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Nominal Data
Nominal data is the simplest level of measurement, consisting of categories that cannot be ordered or ranked. Examples include gender, race, or types of fruit. In the context of the question, nominal data would not apply since the years lived can be ordered and compared, indicating a higher level of measurement.
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Ratio Data
Ratio data is a quantitative measurement that has all the properties of interval data, with the addition of a true zero point. This means that not only can you measure differences between values, but you can also make meaningful statements about how many times greater one value is compared to another. In the context of the years lived by presidents, popes, and monarchs, this data is ratio because it allows for comparisons and has a true zero (e.g., living 0 years after inauguration).
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