Final answer:
Discrete data is the result of counting distinct, separate items or occurrences, such as the number of tickets sold to a concert, the number of books in a student's backpack, or the number of cans of soup in a pantry.
Step-by-step explanation:
Discrete data is counted, not measured. This type of data takes on only specific, separate numerical values, and is usually the result of counting things. Let's delve into some examples to clarify:
- The number of tickets sold to a concert is an example of discrete data. You can sell individual tickets, and thus, you can count them, but you cannot have a fraction of a ticket sold.
- The number of books a student carries in their backpack represents another instance of discrete data. Each book is a discrete item that can be counted.
- An example more closely related to daily life would be the number of cans of soup you have in your pantry. Like tickets and books, cans of soup are countable items and, therefore, make up discrete data.
In contrast, quantitative continuous data include numbers that can be measured and may include fractions and decimals. An example of this would be measuring the lengths in minutes of your phone calls during a week.