Basic Statistics

Introduction to Variables
About this Lesson

Objectives:
Understand what a variable is.
Identify the different types of variables
What is a variable ?

1 Attributes of a
person or object

2 Varies across people

and objects
Variables that describe a person

Gend Heigh
er t

Hair
Age
color
Variables have values

Male 5 feet
Female 6 feet

Gend Heigh
er t

Hair
Age
color
6 years Blond
60 years Brunet
Some variables use words

Male 5 feet
Female 6 feet

Gend Heigh
er t

Hair
Age
color
6 years Blond
60 years Brunet
Variables have values

Male 5 feet
Female 6 feet

Gend Heigh
er t

Hair
Age
color
6 years Blond
60 years Brunet
Types of variables

Variables

Quantitativ
Qualitative
e

Words Numbers
 ic s Tip s
Statist ow?
o u Kn
y
Did

r ia b le s
t iv e v a
Qua l it a n a s
o k n o w
A re a l s a b le s
a l v a r i
t e go r i c
Ca
Quantitative or qualitative?

Qualitativ Quantitati
Variables
e ve

Height
z z
60Short,
inches,
70 inches
tall
Types of quantitative variables

Quantitativ
e
Continiuou
Discrete
s

Any value Integers

Continuous or discrete?

Continuou
Variables Discrete
s

Weight
z
84 kg 88.2 kg

81 91
KILOGRAMS
Continuous or discrete?

Continuou
Variables Discrete
s

Population
z
Summary of key points

Variables are attributes of things

Variables
Qualitative variables use words
Quantitativ
Qualitative Quantitative variables use numbers
e

Continuous variables can be any

Continuous value from min to max
Discrete variables have gaps between
Discrete Min and max