Questions: For each variable, determine whether it is best thought of as discrete or continuous. (a) The height of a fifth-grade boy (b) The number of participants in a study who describe themselves as "perfectionistic" (c) The length of the arm of a heavyweight boxer (d) The number of personal-injury traffic accidents last week on Interstate 65 in Indiana

For each variable, determine whether it is best thought of as discrete or continuous.
(a) The height of a fifth-grade boy
(b) The number of participants in a study who describe themselves as "perfectionistic"
(c) The length of the arm of a heavyweight boxer
(d) The number of personal-injury traffic accidents last week on Interstate 65 in Indiana
Transcript text: For each variable, determine whether it is best thought of as discrete or continuous. (a) The height of a fifth-grade boy (b) The number of participants in a study who describe themselves as "perfectionistic" (c) The length of the arm of a heavyweight boxer (d) The number of personal-injury traffic accidents last week on Interstate 65 in Indiana
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Solution

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Solution Steps

Step 1: Determine the nature of variable (a)

The height of a fifth-grade boy is a measurement that can take any value within a range. It is not limited to specific, countable values. Therefore, it is best thought of as a continuous variable.

Step 2: Determine the nature of variable (b)

The number of participants in a study who describe themselves as "perfectionistic" is a count of individuals. Counts are whole numbers and cannot take fractional values. Therefore, it is best thought of as a discrete variable.

Step 3: Determine the nature of variable (c)

The length of the arm of a heavyweight boxer is a measurement that can take any value within a range. It is not limited to specific, countable values. Therefore, it is best thought of as a continuous variable.

Final Answer

(a) Continuous, (b) Discrete, (c) Continuous, (d) Discrete.

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