Question

For each of the following random variables, indicate whether the variable is discrete or continuous, and specify the possible values that it can assume.
a.) X = the number of traffic accidents in Albuquerque on a given day.
b.) X = the amount of weight lost in a month by a randomly selected dieter.
c.) X = the average number of children per family in a random sample of 175 families.
d.) X = the number of households out of 10 surveyed that own a convection oven.
e.) X = the time in minutes required to obtain service in a restaurant.

Answer 1

(a)

Discrete Variable. Possible values it can assume: 0, 1, 2, 3 etc. (positive integers including 0)

(b)

Continuous Variable. Possible values it can assume: all values:positive, zero or negative

(c)

Discrete Variable. Possible values it can assume: 0, 1, 2, 3 etc. (positive integers including 0)

(d)

Discrete Variable. Possible values it can assume: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8, 9, 10

(e)

Continuous Variable. Possible values it can assume: all positive values including 0.