Question

1. how important do you think the variable dtype is in explaining score?

Answer 1

The scores reflect the contribution each variable makes in classifying or predicting the target variable, with the contribution stemming from both the variable's role as a primary splitter and its role as a surrogate to any of the primary splitters.

There are two groups of variables that you need to know about: categorical variables and continuous variables. We use the word groups of variables because both categorical and continuous variables include additional types of variable. However, there can also be some ambiguities when deciding whether a variable is categorical or continuous

Variables play an important role in computer programming because they enable programmers to write flexible programs. Rather than entering data directly into a program, a programmer can use variables to represent the data. Then, when the program is executed, the variables are replaced with real data.

A simple example given below will explain the difference among 4 basic measurement scales: Nominal, Ordinal, Interval and Ratio.
Let us take an example of “100 meter race” in a tournament where three runners are participating from three different states of Malaysia. Each runner is assigned a number (displayed in uniform) to differentiate from each other. The number displayed in the uniform to identify runners is an example of nominal scale. Once the race is over, the winner is declared along with the declaration of first runner up and second runner up based on the criteria that who reaches the destination first, second and last. The rank order of runners such as “second runner up as 3”, “first runner up as 2” and the “winner as 1” is an example of ordinal scale. During the tournament, judge is asked to rate each runner on the scale of 1–10 based on certain criteria. The rating given by the judge is an example of interval scale. The time spent by each runner in completing the race is an example of ratio scale.