Question

tell wheter the variable is discreteor continous

X represents the length of time it takes to get to work

Answer 1

to determine this, think about the type of measurement used: time in this case

Answer 2

you can break your commute to work down to even the smallest measurement of time: so we can start with hours:minutes:seconds:milliseconds...

Answer 3

eh??

Answer 4

well, first what do you think it is?

Answer 5

idk

Answer 6

a discrete variable is one that finite. meaning that you only have a certain number of possible values. while a continuous variable is essentially finite.

Answer 7

*infinite, sorry

Answer 8

k.
so im still confused!

Answer 9

all right. let's consider finite first.

Answer 10

if you have a survey, and there is question that asks you to rate how much you enjoyed the new Fast and Furious movie, on a scale from 1 to 5. with 1 being you hated it, and 5 being you loved it

Answer 11

the choices: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. represent discrete values

Answer 12

you can't say you liked the movie 4.3423

Answer 13

ohk
so its discrete?

Answer 14

the survey example is discrete

Answer 15

ohk what about the origonal question

Answer 16

so now. if you could be more specific. and you could choose any value from 1 to 5, then the choice of 4.3423 would be allowed

Answer 17

and in that case basically any number, 4.3232593923954350345 for example, could your choice

Answer 18

so you now have so many choices, essentially an infinite number of choices now, because the new survey scale is *continuous*

Answer 19

ok. im still confused. youved gotten me nowhere bud

Answer 20

OK, so now, let's look at X in your question, which is the amount of time it takes to get to work.

Answer 21

it may take you 5 minutes to get to work one day. it may take you 5 minutes and 11 seconds the next. i may take you 5 minutes 11 seconds and 15 milliseconds the following day

Answer 22

yes?

Answer 23

you are not limited to a few options (like in the first survey with 1,2,3,4,5), because the amount of time can vary greatly

Answer 24

continous?

Answer 25

well yes

Answer 26

does it make sense?

Answer 27

no. not really i quessed..

Answer 28

right ;) can you try to explain to me what discrete means?

Answer 29

fintite??

Answer 30

all right, so what is continuous?

Answer 31

unfinite.? but i dont nderstand what finite is reallly XD

Answer 32

ok finite sort of just means that you can count whatever it is

Answer 33

like in the survey, you could count the number of possible choices: there were only 5 (1,2,34,5) in the finite case

Answer 34

sorry about that, OK, so infinite sort of just means that you can't count whatever it is: in the case where you could now choose any value from to 1 to 5, like 4.23423545, you could also choose 4.3224545 or 4.3 or 3.2352345 or a 3 with however many numbers behind the decimal point

Answer 35

in that case you can't count the number of possible choices...there are an infinite number

Answer 36

k i thinkg i got it

Answer 37

all right. i hope this helped. I need to go now. good night and good luck

Answer 38

k thank you