What type of data is represented by the brand of a computer purchased by a customer?

The brand of a computer purchased by a customer is classified as categorical data because it represents a qualitative characteristic that describes a category or group. Categorical data encompasses variables that can be divided into different categories, each representing a distinct group without any inherent numerical value or order. For instance, brands like Apple, Dell, and HP are labels that categorize the data based on the specific brand that a computer belongs to.

In contrast, numerical discrete and numerical continuous data pertain to quantities or measurements, which are not applicable in this case since a brand represents a label, not a count or measurement. Ordinal data, while also categorical, implies a specific order or ranking (like satisfaction levels), which is not relevant here as the brands do not have a rank or ordering among them. Thus, the correct classification for the brand of a computer is categorical.