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Variables and distributions

4 important questions on Variables and distributions

What is a histogram?

A histogram is similar to a bar chart, with the values of the variable grouped into several categories and the bars can then represent the frequencies. The bars touch one another to indicate the continuous nature of the variable. If the widths of the groups are different this should be reflected in the histogram through the thickness of the bars. The area of the bar should be proportional to the frequency. A histogram can be used to illustrate the distribution of a single quantitative variable or the distribution of a quantitative variable across the levels of a categorical variable.

What is a cumulative frequency curve?

The number of data less than (or equal to) a particular value

What is a scatter plot?

A simple graph used to examine the relationship between two quantitative variables. Each pair of values is represented by a symbol where the horizontal position is determined by the value of the first variable (exposure) and the vertical position by the value of the second variable (outcome)