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Discrete Variable

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Contents

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.


References

AQA

Discrete variables, page 260, GCSE Physics; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA