What defines Non-Additive Facts?

Non-Additive Facts are defined specifically as measures that cannot be summed across any dimensions in a meaningful way. This characteristic makes them distinct in the context of data modeling and analysis. For instance, consider certain metrics like ratios or averages: summing these values across dimensions does not yield a meaningful amount or result because they represent relations rather than absolute quantities.

In the realm of data warehousing and business intelligence, understanding the nature of facts is critical for accurate aggregation and reporting. Non-Additive Facts might include complex metrics like rates or percentages, where the outcome of a sum would not provide a valid or interpretable figure.

The focus on this specific definition highlights the importance of recognizing how certain facts behave within a data model, and why their treatment differs from that of additively defined measures, which can be straightforwardly summed across different categories or dimensions.