What is the definition of discrete data?

Discrete data consists of distinct, separate values that can be counted.

In more detail, discrete data refers to information that can only take on specific, individual values within a range. These values are often whole numbers and are not continuous, meaning you cannot have fractions or decimals between them. For example, the number of students in a classroom is discrete data because you can count each student individually, and you cannot have a fraction of a student.

Discrete data is often represented using bar charts or pie charts, which help to visualise the distinct categories or groups. Each bar or slice represents a specific value or category, making it easy to compare different data points. For instance, if you were to count the number of pets owned by students in your class, you might find that some have 0 pets, some have 1, and others have 2 or more. Each of these counts is a discrete value.

Another key characteristic of discrete data is that it is often used in situations where you are counting items or occurrences. Examples include the number of books on a shelf, the number of cars in a car park, or the number of goals scored in a football match. These are all scenarios where the data points are distinct and separate.

Understanding discrete data is important because it helps you to analyse and interpret information that is naturally grouped into distinct categories. This type of data is common in everyday life and is a fundamental concept in statistics and probability.