Which statement about ratio scales is true?

• A. Intervals between adjacent values are equal and there is a true zero point
• B. Intervals between adjacent values are not necessarily equal
• C. It is limited to non-numeric qualitative data
• D. It cannot have a meaningful zero

Answer: (A)

On a ratio scale, the spacing between adjacent values is equal and there is a true zero that represents none of the quantity. This combination allows meaningful comparisons using ratios, so you can say one amount is twice another or that zero means none of the attribute. Examples include height, weight, distance, and elapsed time. This sets ratio scales apart from interval scales, where intervals are equal but zero is arbitrary, so ratios aren’t meaningful. It also differs from qualitative data or ordinal data, which don’t have true numeric differences or a true zero. So the statement that best fits a ratio scale is that intervals between adjacent values are equal and there is a true zero point.