Question

The following are examples of different types of variables. Which are discrete variables? Check all that apply.

A. Number of votes for a candidate
B. Telephone number
C. Temperature of a hot pizza
D. Speed of a race car
E. Weight of an elephant

Answer 1

Well, maybe just A and B

Answer 2

Number of votes for a candidate
Telephone number

Answer 3

Discrete variables go in steps, and nothing in between. For example, the number of people in a household is a discrete variable, because there cannot be 3.3 people in the house.

Answer 4

discrete variables have possible outcomes that are countable

Answer 5

Put pi in front of everything to figure this out

Can you have:

pi # of votes? No
pi as a telephone number or digit? No
pi temperature? Yes
pi Speed? Yes
pi Weight? Yes

If something is continuous, it is not discrete. Discrete values are not continuous.

Answer 6

Well, maybe decimals would be a better thing to use than pi

Answer 7

Can you express # of votes as a decimal? No
Telephone number as a decimal? No
Temperature as a decimal? Yes
Speed as a decimal? Yes
Weight as a decimal? Yes

If it can be expressed as a decimal, then it is not discrete.
If it can't be expressed as a decimal, then it is discrete.

You can use that as a general guideline. It may not apply to every and all situations.

Answer 8

Yeah like what Hero said..lol

Answer 9

"It may not apply to every and all situations. "


it doesn't


discrete just means countable possible outcomes.

it is possible for a variable to have outcomes that are rational numbers...this would be a discrete variable (even though you have decimals)

Answer 10

I see what you mean. The ultimate question to ask is, "Is whatever you are measuring countable?". If yes, it is discrete, if not, then it is not discrete.

Answer 11

so whats the answer?

Answer 12

telephone number & number of votes for a candidate