What is a characteristic of discrete variables?

Discrete variables are characterized by the fact that they can only take on specific values within a given range, which is typically whole numbers. This means that discrete variables are not suitable for representing fractions or decimals; instead, they count distinct items or categories. Examples of discrete variables include the number of students in a classroom, the number of cars in a parking lot, or the outcome of rolling a die, where each outcome is a whole number.

The other characteristics mentioned do not apply to discrete variables. For instance, the option about being able to take any infinite value describes continuous variables instead, which can assume an infinite number of values within a range and can include fractions and decimals. The idea of being always associated with an interval is also more aligned with continuous variables, as discrete variables don't fit smoothly within intervals—they jump from one whole number to another. Lastly, measuring arbitrary values aligns more with continuous variables, which can represent values on a continuum rather than fixed amounts. Thus, the defining characteristic of discrete variables is that they can only represent whole numbers.