If a variable is continuous numerical data, which statement is true?

• A. It is only used for categories
• B. Its values must be integers
• C. It cannot take on a natural order
• D. Its values can be any real number within a range

Answer: (D)

Continuous numerical data are measurements that can take any value along a continuum within a range. Because values can be measured with arbitrary precision, you’re not limited to whole numbers; between any two real numbers there are infinitely many others. This also means the data have a natural order, so you can compare values, find mids, means, and other statistics that rely on that ordering.

That’s why the statement that its values can be any real number within a range is the correct one. The other ideas don’t fit: continuous numerical data are not just for categories, since categories are qualitative labels rather than numbers. They don’t have to be integers, because non-integer real values are perfectly allowed. And they do have a natural order on the real numbers, so they can be ordered and compared.