A distribution is a pattern that data follows. For example, a histogram of heights of people look like a bell shaped curve. A categorical variable records which group an individual belongs to. A categorical variable is also called a qualitative variable. For example consider the grouping of individuals by profession.
Profession is a categorical variable.
A categorical variable is usually a property or attirbute. A quantitative variable takes on numerical values. A continuous quantitative variable takes on all possible numeric values in some number interval, for example, ages. A discrete quantitative variable takes on only a few of the possible numeric values in any finite number interval, for example, number of automobiles owned by a family. Frequency Chart Bar Chart Pie Charts Stem and Leaf Plots Histograms Describing Distributions Shape Shapes can be symmetrical or skewed.