Determine if the situation represents discrete data or continuous data.

Discrete Data Continuous Data

number of students in a class the length of a leaf a person's height basketball scores number of cars in a parking lot time in a race

1 answer

To determine whether each situation represents discrete data or continuous data, we can categorize them as follows:

Discrete Data: This type of data consists of distinct or separate values. It typically involves counts of items or occurrences.

  • Number of students in a class: Discrete (you can count the number of students, like 20, 21, etc.)
  • Basketball scores: Discrete (scores can be whole numbers, e.g., 50, 51, etc.)
  • Number of cars in a parking lot: Discrete (counts of cars, e.g., 10, 11, etc.)

Continuous Data: This type of data can take any value within a given range and can be measured. It often involves measurements.

  • The length of a leaf: Continuous (can take many values, e.g., 3.5 cm, 3.55 cm, etc.)
  • A person's height: Continuous (can take many values, e.g., 170.5 cm, etc.)
  • Time in a race: Continuous (can take many values, e.g., 12.34 seconds, etc.)

In summary:

Discrete Data:

  • Number of students in a class
  • Basketball scores
  • Number of cars in a parking lot

Continuous Data:

  • The length of a leaf
  • A person's height
  • Time in a race