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Question
Distinguish between discrete and continuous random variables.
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Solution
| Points of Difference | Discrete Variable | Continuous Variable | |
| 1. | Meaning | A variable which can take only certain specific values. | A variable which can take any value within a given range or limit. |
| 2. | Nature of Values | Its values increase in jumps or steps (whole numbers). | Its values increase continuously, not in jumps or steps. |
| 3. | Example | Number of students in a class – 30, 35, 40, 45, 50. | Height, weight, or age – e.g., 50.5 kg, 42.8 kg, 18.6 years. |
| 4. | Probability Distributions | Binomial, Poisson, and hypergeometric distributions belong to this category. | Normal, Student’s t, and Chi-square distributions belong to this category. |
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