Which pair correctly matches a data type to an example?

• A. Continuous numerical data — weight in kilograms
• B. Nominal categorical data — grades A,B,C
• C. Ordinal categorical data — hair colour
• D. Continuous numerical data — temperature in Kelvin

Answer: (A)

Continuous numerical data are measurements that can take any real value on a scale. Weight in kilograms fits this perfectly because your weight isn’t limited to integers—you can have 60, 60.1, 60.01 kg, and so on, depending on the precision of the measurement. This shows the variable can vary continuously.

The other examples clarify different data types: hair colour is a nominal category with no inherent order, and grades A, B, C form an ordinal set where there is a natural ranking. Temperature in Kelvin is also a numerical measure on a continuous scale, but weight is the clearest and most standard illustration of a continuous numerical variable.