Celsius temperature is classified as what type of data?

Celsius temperature is classified as interval data because it possesses meaningful intervals between values, allowing for the measurement of the difference in temperature. In the Celsius scale, the difference between 10 degrees and 20 degrees is the same as the difference between 20 degrees and 30 degrees, reflecting a consistent unit of measurement.

However, it's important to note that in the Celsius scale, there is no true zero point that indicates the absence of temperature; instead, zero degrees Celsius is simply the freezing point of water. This is a critical distinction because, in ratio data, a true zero point exists, which allows for statements about how many times greater one value is than another. For instance, in the case of temperature measured in Kelvin, zero denotes absolute zero, making it ratio data.

Understanding that Celsius is interval data helps to clarify how we interpret differences in temperature without the application of multiplication or true zero comparisons.