How to Determine if Data Is Discrete or Continuous

How do you tell if data is discrete or continuous?

Discrete data is data that has distinguishable spaces between values.

Often it is data that is counted.

On a graph the ordered pairs are at specific locations, so the graph is not connected, but only points

Some examples of discrete data include,

Dogs

People

Tickets you have for a show.

Continuous data is data that falls on a continuum.

On a graph it is all of the points, and the points in between.

It is data that can be measured as finely as possible.

It is often a physical measure.

Discreet data will often will contain fractions or decimals.

Some examples of continuous data include,

Time

Age

Height

Weight

Let's look at two examples and see the differences between these types of data.

Family Members

Discrete 5 family members

Continuous: Range between 5 feet and 6 feet tall

Books, books on your book shelf.

The discreet data is that you have 6 books on your bookshelf.

Continuous data is that they range in height from 15 to 30 cm in length