Question

For the following numerical variables, state whether each is discrete or continuous. a. The number of insufficient-funds checks received by a grocery store during a given month b. The amount by which a 1 -pound package of ground beef decreases in weight (because of moisture loss) before purchase c. The number of New York Yankees during a given year who will not play for the Yankees the next year d. The number of students in a class of 35 who have purchased a used copy of the textbook

Short answer

a. Discrete, b. Continuous, c. Discrete, d. Discrete

Step-by-step solution

Insufficient-funds Checks

Observe that the number of insufficient-funds checks the grocery store gets in a month can only be whole numbers - you can't get half a check. This makes the variable discrete.

Decreasing Weight of Ground Beef

Understand that the weight decrease of the ground beef package may not be a whole value, it could be anywhere within a range. Hence, it is a continuous variable.

Number of Yankees Not Playing Next Year

Consider that the number of New York Yankees who will not play next year can only be a whole number - you can't have half a player. Therefore, the variable is discrete.

Students Purchasing Used Textbooks

Recall that the number of students in a class size of 35 purchasing a used copy of the textbook can only be a whole number - you can't have half a student. This variable is therefore discrete.