Key Stage 4
Meaning
A discrete variable is a numerical variable which can only be specific values with no numbers in between.
About Discrete Variables
- Discrete variables are often integers, but not always.
Examples
- The number of people with a particular eye colour: The number of people is a discrete variable because you can't have half a person.
- The boiling point of an alkane depending on the number of Carbon atoms in that alkane: The number of Carbon atoms is a discrete variable because you can't have half an atom.
- How the shoe size depends on the size of people's feet: The shoe size is a discrete variable because there are no sizes between 7 and 7.5.