continuous or discrete data?

Question

Is the follow discrete or continuous data
units of alcohol drunk each week
1-3
4-6
7-9
10-12
Some books say discrete while others say continuous Can anyone help.

Answer 1

It could be considered a discreet variable, provided you define the quantities as being 'to the nearest whole unit'. In reality however, it is a continuous variable, as alcohol intake is not quantised. The point is, is it possible to have consumed a non-integer value of units, 1.5 for example? Since it is, this must be considered a continuous variable. Discreet variables are only those in which things must conform to specific states. I hope that's clear

Answer 2

I won't give an explanation of the difference between discrete and continuous data, since others have done so better than I could.

The data as shown by the interval classes given must be discrete. Although technically a person would drink a non-integer value of units each week, there is no interval in which the value of 3.5 units could be placed into. There is also no interval for between 6 and 7 units, and between 9 and 10 units. This implies that a person can only give integer values of the number of units drunk each week.

This actually makes sense, since this type of data would likely be obtained through a questionnaire of some kind. Since half a unit of alcohol is such a small amount, and since people would usually give a rough estimation to the amount of alcohol they drink each week (it would vary from week to week), it would be sensible to give an integer value rather than an exact value correct to several decimal places.

However, it is strange that there is no interval containing the value 0. There do exist people who don't drink any acohol at all, (apparently). There also exist many, many people who drink a lot more than 12 units a week. But this has little to do with the question you asked.

Since non-integer values cannot be accepted as data in the interval classes as given, (at least not values between 3 and 4, 6 and 7, 9 and 10) the data must be discrete...

Answer 3

The numerical data that we use in this course falls into 1 of 2 categories :

discrete and continuous.


A type of data is discrete if there are only a finite number of values possible or if there is a space on the number line between each 2 possible values.


Example:-

A five question quiz is given in a Math class.

The number of correct answers on a student's quiz is an example of DISCRETE data.

The number of correct answers would have to be one of the following : 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5.

There are not an infinite number of values, therefore this data is discrete.

Also, if we were to draw a number line and place each possible value on it, we would see a space between each pair of values.

DISCRETE data usually occurs in a case where there are only a certain number of values, or when we are counting something (using whole numbers).

CONTINUOUS data makes up the rest of numerical data.

This is a type of data that is usually associated with some sort of physical measurement.

Answer 4

I would say discrete judging by the layout:

Continuous would be:

"units of alcohol drunk each week

1< x < 12

Answer 5

I'm a chemist and i'd say it's discrete becuase it is units per week which cannot evolve gradually over time. Somthing which is continuous can be differentiated which in this case would give units of alcohol consumed per infitesimal unit of time.

Answer 6

It depends if the answer you await are integer or definite fraction
. People await answer as 1 , 2 or 3, then it is discrete
Continuous data seems me difficult ot collect. I do not imagine answering , i have drunken 1.877unit

Answer 7

I would say that, as there are only specific classes that the data can go in, and a finite number of them, this is discrete data.

Answer 8

Continuous
Please give me best answer thanks!