Explain what is meant by (a) discrete data, (b) continuous data.

Discrete data refers to data points that can only take on certain, distinct values. These values are usually whole numbers, and it does not make sense to talk about values in between the distinct values. Definitely, the data points are countable and finite or countably infinite. Examples of discrete data: 1. The number of students in a class - You cannot have a fraction of a student, so this data is discrete. 2. The number of cars in a parking lot - A car is a whole unit, you cannot have part of a car, hence it is discrete data.

Continuous data refers to data points that can take on any value within a range or interval. These values can be any number, including fractions and decimals. When working with continuous data, it's possible to have an infinite number of values between any two points. Examples of continuous data: 1. The temperature - Temperature can take on any value within a range, e.g., 30.5°C, 30.55°C, etc. 2. The height of a person - A person's height can be any value within a given interval, for example, 1.75 meters or 1.752 meters. By understanding the difference between discrete and continuous data, you will have a better grasp of how to work with these types of data in various applications and manage the information accordingly.