An airline uses many different types of airplanes. Information regarding some of the airplanes is given in the table below.
| Plane | Number of Seats | Seat Width (Inches) | Wi-Fi | First-Class Seats? |
| ----------- | --------------- | ------------------- | ----- | -------------------- |
| SkyBus 280 | 120 | 20.3 | no | no |
| SkyBus 580 | 225 | 20.6 | yes | yes |
| Grigson A-2 | 70 | 19.9 | no | no |
| Grigson A-5 | 130 | 20.5 | yes | no |
| SkyDancer | 350 | 20.2 | yes | yes |
Which of the variables is a continuous variable?
A. number of seats
B. seat width
C. Wi-Fi
Answer (2)
A continuous variable can take any value within a given range.
The number of seats is a discrete variable because it can only take integer values.
Seat width is a continuous variable because it can take any value within a range.
Wi-Fi and First-Class Seats are categorical variables.
Therefore, the continuous variable is se a tw i d t h .
Explanation
Understanding the Problem We need to identify the continuous variable from the given variables: number of seats, seat width, Wi-Fi, and First-Class Seats?
Definitions of Variable Types A continuous variable can take any value within a given range. A discrete variable can only take specific, separate values (usually integers). Categorical variables represent qualities or characteristics.
Analyzing Number of Seats The number of seats can only take integer values (you can't have half a seat), so it is a discrete variable.
Analyzing Seat Width Seat width can take any value within a certain range (e.g., 19.9, 20.2, 20.3, 20.5, 20.6 inches). It's not restricted to integer values, so it is a continuous variable.
Analyzing Wi-Fi and First-Class Seats Wi-Fi (yes/no) and First-Class Seats? (yes/no) are categorical variables because they represent qualities (whether or not the plane has Wi-Fi or first-class seats) rather than numerical values.
Conclusion Therefore, the continuous variable is seat width.
Examples
In manufacturing, understanding continuous variables like the thickness of materials or the temperature of a process is crucial for quality control. For example, a machine producing metal sheets needs to maintain a consistent thickness. If the thickness, a continuous variable, deviates too much from the desired value, the sheets may not meet the required specifications. By monitoring and controlling these continuous variables, manufacturers can ensure their products meet the necessary standards.
The continuous variable from the options given is seat width, as it can take any value within a range. The number of seats is a discrete variable, and Wi-Fi is a categorical variable. Thus, seat width is the only continuous variable among them.
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