Tables of other values

Not all columns of values form partitions. The sum of two values for many types of measurement is not meaningful.

For some types of measurement, you need to think more carefully.

The important question to ask is:

Does the sum of two values in the table have any meaning?

It is important to recognise when a column of values does not form a partition since some graphical displays of data are only applicable to partitions.

Life expectancy in Asian countries

The table below shows the life expectancy in all countries in East Asia in 2005.

Country Life expectancy (years)
Brunei Darussalam
Cambodia
China
Hong Kong (China)
Indonesia
Japan
Laos
Macao (China)
Malaysia
Myanmar
North Korea
Philippines
Singapore
South Korea
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Viet Nam
76.3
56.8
72.0
81.5
68.6
81.9
61.9
80.0
73.0
59.9
66.7
70.3
78.8
77.0
68.6
58.3
73.0

These values do not form a partition since the sum of pairs of values cannot be interpreted, and it would be meaningless to add a row to the table with the total of the values.