Final answer:
The variable 'Area code' is classified as categorical because it groups telephone numbers by geographic regions without a measurable quantity. Quantitative discrete data counts exact numbers, whereas quantitative continuous data includes measurements that can have fractional values.
Step-by-step explanation:
The classification for the variable 'Area code' is A) Categorical. Area codes are used to categorize telephone numbers into geographic regions and do not have a numerical value that can be measured or counted in a traditional sense. Therefore, 'Area code' is not quantitative but categorical, as it places telephone numbers into specific groups or categories.
Examples of Types of Data
For quantitative discrete data, we might count the number of phone calls received for each day of the week, yielding values such as zero, one, two, or three. These are specific, countable quantities. On the other hand, quantitative continuous data might include the exact length of phone calls in minutes, which could be numbers like 2.4, 7.5, or 11.0; these values can include fractions and represent measurements.
Other examples:
The number of times per week that residents use a local park (quantitative discrete data).
The duration of time that residents spend at the park (quantitative continuous data).
The colors of the houses around the park (categorical data).