quantitative

Everyday

1. To do with amounts or numbers, things you can measure or count. tree →
2. Quantitative data: information in numbers, like heights, times or temperatures. tree →

In the lessons

In science and maths, quantitative data are measured numbers (the plant grew 5 cm), while qualitative data are descriptions (the leaves turned yellow). Exam voice: «Give a quantitative answer» = give a number with a unit.

Examples

• Measuring the height of plants gives quantitative data. tree →
• «It is 22 degrees» is quantitative; «it is warm» is qualitative. tree →
• Use quantitative data to draw a bar chart. tree →
• The survey had quantitative questions, like «How many pets do you have?» tree →
• Scientists prefer quantitative results they can compare. tree →
• Give a quantitative answer with units. tree →

Note

Spelled quanti-ta-tive (three syllables in the middle: quan-ti-ta-tive); a common misspelling is «quantitive». Opposite pair: qualitative. Linked: quantity.