Quantitative Variable

Definition

A quantitative variable is a type of variable that represents numerical data and can be measured or counted. It provides information about quantities and amounts rather than qualities.

Analogy

Imagine you have a jar filled with marbles. The number of marbles in the jar represents the quantitative value. You can count them, measure their weight, or calculate their average size because they are numeric values.

Related terms

Categorical Variable: In contrast to quantitative variables, categorical variables represent data in categories or groups rather than numerical values.

Continuous Variable: A continuous variable is a type of quantitative variable that can take any value within a certain range. Examples include time duration and temperature.

Discrete Variable: A discrete variable is also a type of quantitative variable but it only takes on specific values within an interval. Examples include the number of siblings someone has or the number of cars sold in a month.