Question

Classify each of the following attributes as either categorical or numerical. For those that are numerical, determine whether they are discrete or continuous. (a) Number of students in a class of 35 who turn in a term paper before the due date. categorical numerical (discrete) numerical (continuous) (b) Gender of the next baby born at a particular hospital. categorical numerical (discrete) numerical (continuous) (c) Amount of fluid (in ounces) dispensed by a machine used to fill bottles with soda pop. categorical numerical (discrete) numerical (continuous) (d) Thickness of the gelatin coating of a vitamin E capsule. categorical numerical (discrete) numerical (continuous) (e) Birth order classification (only child, firstborn, middle child, lastborn) of a math major. categorical numerical (discrete) numerical (continuous)

Answer 1

Answer:

a) numerical discrete, b) categorical, c) numerical continuous, d) numerical continuous, e) categorical

Step-by-step explanation:

Categorical variables are those that represent attributes. For example, the colors of a model of car. It could be black, white, or red. It represents an attribute that can’ t be measured, only can be classified. Categorical variables can be classified into two types: nominal and ordinal. The categorical nominal variables don’ t follow a natural order, like the “b” statement. Babies could be boys or girls. When they have a hierarchy they are ordinal, for example, the “e” statement. They have an order. The firstborn is before than the middle child.

When the variable can be measured, it is a numerical variable. If the variable can be measured on a continuous scale, like “c” and “d” statement, then it is a continuous numerical variable. You can find any value on the scale. For example, the amount of fluid could be 250 ml, 250.1 ml, 249.5 ml.

If the variable can also take some finite variables, then it is a numerical discrete variable. These variables represent counts, as in the “a” statement, the number of students in a class.