Final answer:
The variable (B) 'time' uses the ratio scale of measurement because it has a true zero point and allows the comparison of absolute quantities in a meaningful way, such as calculating ratios.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks which of the following variables uses the ratio scale of measurement.
The options provided are:
- name of stock exchange
- time
- SAT score
- Social Security number
The correct answer is 'time' because it is measured on a ratio scale. A ratio scale has a true zero point and allows for the comparison of absolute magnitudes of numbers.
For example, saying that something took twice as long means that the ratio of the two times is 2:1, which makes sense only because time has a true zero point. Other examples like SAT score also fit into the ratio scale as it has a true zero point and allows for meaningful comparison between scores (like doubling of scores).
The other variables do not use a ratio scale. The name of the stock exchange is a nominal scale since it's used for labeling purposes. The Social Security number is also nominal as it is a unique identifier with no quantitative value.