Variables

Continuous variable
A variable which can have any numerical value is called a continuous variable. Continuous variables
give you the most information and can be plotted as a line graph. Examples of continuous variables
are length, temperature, time, weight, voltage, and many more.

A category is a name of
a group of things.

Categoric variable
A variable which belongs to a particular category is called a categoric variable. Categoric variables
give you less information than continuous variables. They can be shown using bar charts. Examples
of categoric variables are elements, compounds, metals and insulators.

Ordered variables
Some categoric variables have groups within them and the groups are called ordered variables.
Ordered variables give you more information than categoric variables but less information than
continuous variables. An example of an ordered variable would be small, medium or large lumps of
calcium carbonate.
Whole numbers can also
be referred to as
integers

Discrete variable
Finally, a variable which can only have whole numbers is called a discrete variable. Examples of
discrete variables would be the number of wires in a cable, the number of people in a group or the
number of rings of bark in a tree.

Get It Right
The difference between continuous and
discrete is that continuous is any
number (even decimal) and discrete is
only whole numbers.