How do you classify data as discrete or continuous?

Data is classified as discrete if it consists of distinct, separate values; continuous if it can take any value within a range.

Discrete data is countable and often involves whole numbers. For example, the number of students in a classroom is discrete because you can count each student individually, and you can't have a fraction of a student. Other examples include the number of cars in a car park, the number of books on a shelf, or the number of goals scored in a football match. Discrete data is often represented using bar charts or pie charts.

Continuous data, on the other hand, can take any value within a given range and is often measured rather than counted. For instance, the height of students in a classroom is continuous because it can be any value within a range, such as 150.5 cm or 160.2 cm. Other examples include temperature, time, and weight. Continuous data is typically represented using histograms or line graphs.

To determine whether data is discrete or continuous, ask yourself if the data can be counted in whole numbers (discrete) or if it can take any value within a range (continuous). This distinction helps in choosing the right methods for data analysis and representation.