Practical Neural Network Recipies in C++

266

Chapter

16

Ratio Variables

Ratio data is the highest information scale. It is identical to interval

data, except that the meaning of zero in an interval scale is arbitrary,

whereas zero in a ratio scale is a true zero. The Fahrenheit and

Celsius temperature scales are both interval, because zero is arbitrari-

ly defined. The Kelvin scale, on the other hand, is a ratio scale. Zero

degrees Kelvin is absolute zero; there is no molecular motion at that

temperature. Weight is ratio data, since zero grams really means zero.

Only in ratio data are ratios meaningful. It makes no sense to

say that a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit is twice th ...