What distinguishes discrete variables from continuous variables?

Discrete variables are characterized by their countable nature, meaning they can only take specific, distinct values. For example, the number of students in a classroom or the number of cars in a parking lot are discrete variables because you cannot have a fraction of a student or a fraction of a car. Each of these values is precise and whole, resulting in a clear distinction from continuous variables, which can take on any value within a given range and include fractions and decimals.

This understanding of discrete variables helps in various aspects of research and data analysis, especially in deciding which statistical methods are appropriate for analysis. In contrast, continuous variables reflect measurements and can represent an infinite number of values within an interval, but they are not relevant to the distinction between discrete and continuous types. Therefore, recognizing that discrete variables are countable and exact is key to proper data classification and subsequent analytical approaches.