Final answer:
Age is inherently a continuous variable, but it can be discussed discretely, often when rounded to the nearest whole year or for simplicity in data collection and analysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Age is a continuous variable because it can take on an infinite number of values between any two points. Age changes continuously over time, including not just whole years but also months, days, hours, and even smaller units of time.
However, for practical purposes, age can also be discussed discretely when we round to the nearest whole year or count it in complete years. For instance, in surveys, research.
When determining eligibility for certain age-based activities, it might be convenient to treat age as a discrete variable to simplify the data collection and analysis processes.
Despite age being inherently continuous, discussing it discretely allows for simplicity and is often sufficient for the level of precision required in many real-world applications.
When analyzing age data in discrete terms, such as grouping individuals into age categories (e.g., 20-29, 30-39), we can still work with the data in a meaningful way, gaining insights into different age groups while that the underlying variable remains continuous.