Understanding the Difference Between Continuous and Categorical Variables in Math

continuous variable, types of data3. To monitor campus security, the campus police office is taking a survey of the number ofstudents in a parking lot each 30 minutes of a 24-hour period with the goal of determining whenpatrols of the lot would serve the most students. If X is the number of students in the lot eachperiod of time, then X is an example of. a) a categorical variable.. b) a discrete variable.. c) a continuous variable.. d) a statistic.

In this scenario, the variable X represents the number of students in the parking lot each 30-minute period

In this scenario, the variable X represents the number of students in the parking lot each 30-minute period.

Since X can take on any numerical value within a given range (e.g., 0, 1, 2, 3, …), it is an example of a continuous variable.

A continuous variable is one that can take on any value within a range or interval, and it can be measured and divided into smaller increments, such as fractions or decimals. In the case of the number of students in the parking lot, it can be any non-negative whole number or even a fraction, like 2.5 students.

A categorical variable, on the other hand, represents items that can be put into distinct categories or groups, such as gender, ethnicity, or car color. Discrete variables, meanwhile, can only take on specific, separate values (e.g., the number of siblings someone has or the number of cars sold in a day).

So out of the given options, the correct answer is c) a continuous variable.

More Answers:

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The amount of milk in a 2-liter carton: A comprehensive guide to understanding and measuring this continuous variable

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