- All Implemented Interfaces:
- java.io.Serializable, Measure
public class RatioScale
extends ContinuousMeasure
The ratio scale allows for both difference and ratio of two values.
Examples include mass, length, duration, plane angle, energy and
electric charge. The ratio type takes its name from the fact that
measurement is the estimation of the ratio between a magnitude of
a continuous quantity and a unit magnitude of the same kind.
A ratio scale possesses a meaningful (unique and non-arbitrary)
zero value. In comparison with Celsius scale, the Kelvin
temperature scale is a ratio scale because it has a unique,
non-arbitrary zero point called absolute zero.
Most measurement in the physical sciences and engineering
is done on ratio scales.
The geometric mean and the harmonic mean are allowed to measure
the central tendency of ratio variables, in addition to the mode,
median, and arithmetic mean. In fact, all statistical measures are
allowed because all necessary mathematical operations are defined
for the ratio scale.
- See Also:
- Serialized Form