Which term describes the scale with an absolute zero point?

Which term describes the scale with an absolute zero point?

• A. Nominal
• B. Ordinal
• C. Interval
• D. Ratio

Answer: (D)

A scale with an absolute zero point is a ratio scale. Because zero means an true absence of the quantity, you can compare values using ratios (one value is twice another) and perform meaningful arithmetic like multiplication and division. Examples include height, weight, elapsed time, and Kelvin temperature. By contrast, nominal scales categorize without any order, ordinal scales show order without equal intervals, and interval scales have equal intervals but zero is arbitrary, so ratios aren’t meaningful there.

A scale with an absolute zero point is a ratio scale. Because zero means an true absence of the quantity, you can compare values using ratios (one value is twice another) and perform meaningful arithmetic like multiplication and division. Examples include height, weight, elapsed time, and Kelvin temperature. By contrast, nominal scales categorize without any order, ordinal scales show order without equal intervals, and interval scales have equal intervals but zero is arbitrary, so ratios aren’t meaningful there.