Question

Are discrete variables themselves probabilities or are they the data for calculating probabilities? What do we use discrete variables for in statistics? What do we use continuous variables for in statistics?

Answer 1

Discrete variables are not the probabilities itself. They provide information on calculating probabilities.

Discrete variables are used to denote variables which can take only integer values. For example the number of students in a class is a discrete variable as it can take only discrete integer values. Like the number of students can be 20, 25 etc.

Continuous variables are used to describe variables which can take continuous values. For example average amount of rainfall per day during monsoon. Like the amount of rainfall can be 20.5 cm, 30.6 cm etc.