Are You Thinking About Purchasing A Cell Phone Before Making

You Are Thinking About Purchasing A Cell Phone Before Making A Decisi

You are thinking about purchasing a cell phone, before making a decision you contact the major service providers in your area to obtain some information. For each service provider, you record the cost of the phone itself, the required length of the service contract, whether the phone gives you access to the internet, and the average cost per minute for 500 minutes of monthly use. What variables are you recording for each individual? Which are numerical variables?

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The decision to purchase a cell phone involves evaluating various factors associated with different service providers. When collecting data from these providers, it is important to identify the variables recorded and determine which are numerical to facilitate proper analysis. The variables recorded in this context include the cost of the phone itself, the length of the service contract, whether the phone gives access to the internet, and the average cost per minute for 500 minutes of monthly use.

The first variable, the cost of the phone itself, is a numerical variable. It indicates the monetary amount one must pay to acquire the device, and since this involves numerical values, it can be measured and compared quantitatively across different providers. The second variable, the length of the service contract, is also numerical. It is typically measured in units such as months or years, which allows for quantitative comparison of contract durations across providers.

The third variable concerns whether the phone provides access to the internet. This is a categorical variable because it describes a quality or characteristic rather than a numerical quantity. It can be categorized simply as "yes" or "no," indicating the presence or absence of internet access.

The fourth variable, the average cost per minute for 500 minutes of monthly use, is numerical. It reflects the cost associated with a specific amount of usage and is expressed in monetary units, making it a quantitative measure. This variable allows for comparison of monthly calling costs between providers, which can influence decision-making based on expected usage and expenses.

In summary, the numerical variables recorded are the cost of the phone itself, the length of the service contract, and the average cost per minute. The categorical variable is whether the phone has internet access. Recognizing which variables are numerical helps in performing appropriate statistical analyses and making informed decisions about which service provider offers the best value and features.

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