Ratio scale The ratio type takes its name from the fact that measurement is the estimation of the ratio between a magnitude of a continuous quantity and a unit magnitude of the same kind (Michell, 1997, 1999). A ratio scale possesses a meaningful (unique and non-arbitrary) zero value. Most measurement in the physical sciences and engineering is done on ratio scales. Examples include mass, length, duration, plane angle, energy and electric charge. In contrast to interval scales, ratios are now meaningful because having a non-arbitrary zero point makes it meaningful to say, for example, that one object has "twice the length" . Very informally, many ratio scales can be described as specifying "how much" of something (i.e. an amount or magnitude) or "how many" (a count). The Kelvin temperature scale is a ratio scale because it has a unique, non-arbitrary zero point called absolute zero .
= Ratio scale See also: The ratio type takes its name from the fact that measurement is the estimation of the ratio between a magnitude of a continuous quantity and a unit of measurement of the same kind (Michell, 1997, 1999). Most measurement in the physical sciences and engineering is done on ratio scales. Examples include mass, length, duration, plane angle, energy and electric charge. In contrast to interval scales, ratios can be compared using division . Very informally, many ratio scales can be described as specifying "how much" of something (i.e. an amount or magnitude) . Ratio scale is often used to express an order of magnitude such as for temperature in Orders of magnitude (temperature) .
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Ratio scale
= Ratio scale See also:
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magnitude of
of measurement of
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A ratio scale possesses a meaningful (unique and non-arbitrary) zero value.
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are now meaningful because having a non-arbitrary zero point makes it meaningful to say, for example, that one object has "twice the length"
can be compared using division
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or "how many" (a count). The Kelvin temperature scale is a ratio scale because it has a unique, non-arbitrary zero point called absolute zero
. Ratio scale is often used to express an order of magnitude such as for temperature in Orders of magnitude (temperature)