Question

state whether the data described below are discrete or continuous, and explain why. the amounts of time that different surgical procedures take at a hospital choose the correct answer below. a. the data are continuous because the data can take on any value in an interval. b. the data are discrete because the data can only take on specific values. c. the data are continuous because the data can only take on specific values. d. the data are discrete because the data can take on any value in an interval.

Explanation:

Continuous data can take on any value within an interval. Time is a continuous variable as it can have an infinite number of values within a given range (e.g., a surgical procedure could take 1.5 hours, 1.51 hours, etc.). Discrete data can only take on specific, separate values. Since the amounts of time for surgical procedures can take on any value in an interval, it is continuous data.

Answer:

A. The data are continuous because the data can take on any value in an interval.