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Mass is a continuous variable. It's the measure of resistance an object has to changing its velocity and can be any positive value. Compare to discrete variables which are only whole numbers.

For example, on Earth a bag of flour with a mass of 1.5 kilograms weighs 14.709975 newtons, both of which are continuous variables. It is only 1 bag of flour though, which is a discrete variable. To extend the consideration, while the 1 bag could be cut in half, there would then be 2 bags (2 half-bags, 2 bag halves) each with .75 kg of flour.

It could be said that generally things that are measured (time, distance, height, weight) are continuous and generally things that are counted (people, cars, cups, bags) are discrete. It's possible to linguistically muddle the distinction though.

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Q: Is a mass of something a continuous or discrete variable?
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Is mass a continuous or discrete variable?

It is a continuous variable.


Is mass continuous or discrete?

mass is continuous


What is the difference among non-orderable discrete orderable discrete continuous variables?

A non-orderable discrete variable is usually one for which the information that is recorded can only have a finite number of qualitative outcomes and that there is no relevant ordering of these outcomes. One example might be favourite fruit. Although the responses can be ordered alphabetically, or by mass of typical specimen, these are not relevant ordering schemes. An orderable discrete variable is one in which there is a relevant basis for ordering the outcomes. An example might be shoe sizes which, in the UK, go ... 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, ... .The ordering reflects how large the shoe is. A continuous variable is one which can take any possible value in the permitted range. A typical example is a person's height. Even though in recording the variable becomes discretised (eg 5ft 10" or 176 cm), the underlying variable is continuous.


What is the difference between a probability mass function and a probability density function?

The probability mass function is used to characterize the distribution of discrete random variables, while the probability density function is used to characterize the distribution of absolutely continuous random variables. You might want to read more about this at www.statlect.com/prbdst1.htm (see the link below or on the right)


What is plotted on the x axis of a line graph?

The independent variable - if there is one. A variable that is common to a number of pairs of variables that you wish to compare. For example, if you want to compare height and mass at various ages, the age would be on the x-axis.

Related questions

Is mass a continuous or discrete variable?

It is a continuous variable.


Is mass continuous or discrete?

mass is continuous


Is number of purchase made in a month a discrete or continuous variable?

Discrete as you cannot have half a purchase and do not need to use a measuring device.- Discrete : Information that is counted or measured in distinct separate units eg. kids in a family, books on a shelf- Continuous : Information measured along a continuous scale, requiring a measuring device eg. height, temperature, mass


What is the difference among non-orderable discrete orderable discrete continuous variables?

A non-orderable discrete variable is usually one for which the information that is recorded can only have a finite number of qualitative outcomes and that there is no relevant ordering of these outcomes. One example might be favourite fruit. Although the responses can be ordered alphabetically, or by mass of typical specimen, these are not relevant ordering schemes. An orderable discrete variable is one in which there is a relevant basis for ordering the outcomes. An example might be shoe sizes which, in the UK, go ... 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, ... .The ordering reflects how large the shoe is. A continuous variable is one which can take any possible value in the permitted range. A typical example is a person's height. Even though in recording the variable becomes discretised (eg 5ft 10" or 176 cm), the underlying variable is continuous.


Is the set of all possible outcomes always finite?

No. If the variable is continuous, for example, height or mass of something, or time interval, then the set of possible outcomes is infinite.


What are five continuous variables?

You age, your height, your mass, the speed at which you run, the energy you burn in doing so. They may be measured as discrete quantities but the underlying variables are all continuous.


What is the difference between discrete data and continuous data?

Discrete variables have numbers that can be counted. Continuous data is measurable. Discrete data are data which can only take on a finite or countable number of values within a given range. Continuous data are data which can take on any value. It is measured rather than counted. The mass of a given sample of iron is continuous; the number of marbles in a bag is discrete.


What is probability mass function?

It is a function which is usually used with continuous distributions, to give the probability associated with different values of the variable.


Density function of a continuous random variable?

I am not quite sure what you are asking. If this answer is not complete, please be more specific. There are many probability density functions (pdf) of continuous variables, including the Normal, exponential, gamma, beta, log normal and Pareto. There are many links on the internet. I felt that the related link gives a very "common sense" approach to understanding pdf's and their relationship to probability of events. As explained in the video, a probability can be read directly from a discrete distribution (called a probability mass function) but in the case of a continuous variable, it is the area under the curve that represents probability.


What has the author Deborah Ann Herman written?

Deborah Ann Herman has written: 'Discrete and continuous dynamics modeling of a mass moving on a flexible structure' -- subject(s): Structural dynamics


What are the words for things which don't have decimals and things which do?

Things without decimals like people are called discrete data and things that you can measure with decimals like mass are called continuous data. :)


How do you compute discrete variables?

You do not compute discrete variables. Some variables are discrete others are not. Simple as that. You do not compute people - you can compute their average height, or mass, or shoe size, etc. But that is computing those characteristics, you are not computing people. In the same way, you can compute the mean, variance, standard error, skewness, kurtosis of discrete variables, or the probability of outcomes, but none of that is computing the discrete variable.You do not compute discrete variables. Some variables are discrete others are not. Simple as that. You do not compute people - you can compute their average height, or mass, or shoe size, etc. But that is computing those characteristics, you are not computing people. In the same way, you can compute the mean, variance, standard error, skewness, kurtosis of discrete variables, or the probability of outcomes, but none of that is computing the discrete variable.You do not compute discrete variables. Some variables are discrete others are not. Simple as that. You do not compute people - you can compute their average height, or mass, or shoe size, etc. But that is computing those characteristics, you are not computing people. In the same way, you can compute the mean, variance, standard error, skewness, kurtosis of discrete variables, or the probability of outcomes, but none of that is computing the discrete variable.You do not compute discrete variables. Some variables are discrete others are not. Simple as that. You do not compute people - you can compute their average height, or mass, or shoe size, etc. But that is computing those characteristics, you are not computing people. In the same way, you can compute the mean, variance, standard error, skewness, kurtosis of discrete variables, or the probability of outcomes, but none of that is computing the discrete variable.