Discrete variable

Math Glossary

A resource for WE & Friends Mathematics and Science Projects

Home  | A  | B  | C  |  D  | E  | F  | G  | H  |  I  | J  | K  | L  | M  | N  | O  | P  | Q  | R  | S  | T  | U  | V  | W  | X  | Y  | Z

This glossary is far from complete. We are constantly adding math terms.
For instructions on adding new terms, please refer to Math Glossary Main Page

Definition

Discrete variable A variable that can take on only a finite number of values. All qualitative variables are discrete; some quantitative variables are discrete (such as performance rated as 1,2,3,4, or 5, or temperature rounded to the nearest degree). A variable that can take on an infinite number of possible values is known as continuous. Sometimes, a variable that takes on enough discrete values may be considered to be continuous for practical purposes. One example is time to the nearest millisecond.

Examples

The following are examples of discrete variables:

• Gender
• Eye color (brown, blue, green, hazel)
• Age in years
• Number of days it snowed
• Number correct on a 5-question test

Web Resources

Statistics Online Computational Resource - Types of Data Online Statistics: An Interactive Multimedia Course of Study, Chapter: 1. Introduction, Section: Variables

Acknowledgements

Portions of this entry were adapted from

• Discrete Variables at Online Statistics Education: An Interactive Multimedia Course of Study. Project Leader: David M. Lane, Rice University. Retrieved 27 January 2012.