Decide whether the following random variable 𝑋 is discrete or continuous. Explain

Question

(a) Let 𝑋 represent the number of books in a university library.

(b) Let 𝑋 represent the length of time it takes to get to work.

Answer 1

a) the number of books in a library is an integer, with no possibility of a decimal value, so it is discrete.

b) the length of time it takes to get to work is a real number, with any decimal value possible between two integer values, so it is continuous.