Can the discrete variable be a negative number?
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I read in a book "An Introduction to Statistical Concepts [3 ed.] p.8):
A numerical variable is a quantitative variable. Numerical variables can further be classified as either discrete or continuous. A discrete variable is defined as a variable that can only take on certain values. For example, the number of children in a family can only take on certain values. Many values are not possible, such as negative values (e.g., the Joneses cannot have −2 children) or decimal values (e.g., the Smiths cannot have 2.2 children). In contrast, a continuous variable is defined as a variable that can take on any value within a certain range given a precise enough measurement instrument.
Question: Does this mean that a discrete variable cannot be a negative number? If a discrete variable cannot be a negative number then please explain why?
distributions discrete-data
edited 2 hours ago
Sycorax
42.1k12109207
asked 3 hours ago
vasili111vasili111
2241312
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I read in a book "An Introduction to Statistical Concepts [3 ed.] p.8):
A numerical variable is a quantitative variable. Numerical variables can further be classified as either discrete or continuous. A discrete variable is defined as a variable that can only take on certain values. For example, the number of children in a family can only take on certain values. Many values are not possible, such as negative values (e.g., the Joneses cannot have −2 children) or decimal values (e.g., the Smiths cannot have 2.2 children). In contrast, a continuous variable is defined as a variable that can take on any value within a certain range given a precise enough measurement instrument.
Question: Does this mean that a discrete variable cannot be a negative number? If a discrete variable cannot be a negative number then please explain why?
distributions discrete-data
edited 2 hours ago
Sycorax
42.1k12109207
asked 3 hours ago
vasili111vasili111
2241312
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
consider "$X_t$" is "number of goals scored in match $t$" and let $Y_t=X_t-X_{t-1}$. (i.e. the change in goals scored from the previous game). $Y_t$ is discrete but can clearly be negative.
$endgroup$
– Glen_b♦
2 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I read in a book "An Introduction to Statistical Concepts [3 ed.] p.8):
A numerical variable is a quantitative variable. Numerical variables can further be classified as either discrete or continuous. A discrete variable is defined as a variable that can only take on certain values. For example, the number of children in a family can only take on certain values. Many values are not possible, such as negative values (e.g., the Joneses cannot have −2 children) or decimal values (e.g., the Smiths cannot have 2.2 children). In contrast, a continuous variable is defined as a variable that can take on any value within a certain range given a precise enough measurement instrument.
Question: Does this mean that a discrete variable cannot be a negative number? If a discrete variable cannot be a negative number then please explain why?
distributions discrete-data
edited 2 hours ago
Sycorax
42.1k12109207
asked 3 hours ago
vasili111vasili111
2241312
$endgroup$
I read in a book "An Introduction to Statistical Concepts [3 ed.] p.8):
A numerical variable is a quantitative variable. Numerical variables can further be classified as either discrete or continuous. A discrete variable is defined as a variable that can only take on certain values. For example, the number of children in a family can only take on certain values. Many values are not possible, such as negative values (e.g., the Joneses cannot have −2 children) or decimal values (e.g., the Smiths cannot have 2.2 children). In contrast, a continuous variable is defined as a variable that can take on any value within a certain range given a precise enough measurement instrument.
Question: Does this mean that a discrete variable cannot be a negative number? If a discrete variable cannot be a negative number then please explain why?
distributions discrete-data
distributions discrete-data
edited 2 hours ago
Sycorax
42.1k12109207
asked 3 hours ago
vasili111vasili111
2241312
edited 2 hours ago
Sycorax
42.1k12109207
asked 3 hours ago
vasili111vasili111
2241312
edited 2 hours ago
Sycorax
42.1k12109207
edited 2 hours ago
Sycorax
42.1k12109207
edited 2 hours ago
Sycorax
42.1k12109207
42.1k12109207
asked 3 hours ago
vasili111vasili111
2241312
asked 3 hours ago
vasili111vasili111
2241312
asked 3 hours ago
vasili111vasili111
2241312
2241312
1
$begingroup$
consider "$X_t$" is "number of goals scored in match $t$" and let $Y_t=X_t-X_{t-1}$. (i.e. the change in goals scored from the previous game). $Y_t$ is discrete but can clearly be negative.
$endgroup$
– Glen_b♦
2 hours ago
add a comment |
1
$begingroup$
consider "$X_t$" is "number of goals scored in match $t$" and let $Y_t=X_t-X_{t-1}$. (i.e. the change in goals scored from the previous game). $Y_t$ is discrete but can clearly be negative.
$endgroup$
– Glen_b♦
2 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
consider "$X_t$" is "number of goals scored in match $t$" and let $Y_t=X_t-X_{t-1}$. (i.e. the change in goals scored from the previous game). $Y_t$ is discrete but can clearly be negative.
$endgroup$
– Glen_b♦
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
consider "$X_t$" is "number of goals scored in match $t$" and let $Y_t=X_t-X_{t-1}$. (i.e. the change in goals scored from the previous game). $Y_t$ is discrete but can clearly be negative.
$endgroup$
– Glen_b♦
2 hours ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
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$begingroup$
Your intuition is correct -- a discrete variable can take on negative values.
The example is just an example: a person can't have $-2$ children, but they can have $-2$ dollars (for example, if you write a bad check, or are in debt).
Discrete variables with negative values exist all over the place. Two prominent examples:
- Rademacher distribution
- Skellam distribution
answered 2 hours ago
SycoraxSycorax
42.1k12109207
$endgroup$
add a comment |
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$begingroup$
Your intuition is correct -- a discrete variable can take on negative values.
The example is just an example: a person can't have $-2$ children, but they can have $-2$ dollars (for example, if you write a bad check, or are in debt).
Discrete variables with negative values exist all over the place. Two prominent examples:
- Rademacher distribution
- Skellam distribution
answered 2 hours ago
SycoraxSycorax
42.1k12109207
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Your intuition is correct -- a discrete variable can take on negative values.
The example is just an example: a person can't have $-2$ children, but they can have $-2$ dollars (for example, if you write a bad check, or are in debt).
Discrete variables with negative values exist all over the place. Two prominent examples:
- Rademacher distribution
- Skellam distribution
answered 2 hours ago
SycoraxSycorax
42.1k12109207
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Your intuition is correct -- a discrete variable can take on negative values.
The example is just an example: a person can't have $-2$ children, but they can have $-2$ dollars (for example, if you write a bad check, or are in debt).
Discrete variables with negative values exist all over the place. Two prominent examples:
- Rademacher distribution
- Skellam distribution
answered 2 hours ago
SycoraxSycorax
42.1k12109207
$endgroup$
Your intuition is correct -- a discrete variable can take on negative values.
The example is just an example: a person can't have $-2$ children, but they can have $-2$ dollars (for example, if you write a bad check, or are in debt).
Discrete variables with negative values exist all over the place. Two prominent examples:
- Rademacher distribution
- Skellam distribution
answered 2 hours ago
SycoraxSycorax
42.1k12109207
answered 2 hours ago
SycoraxSycorax
42.1k12109207
answered 2 hours ago
SycoraxSycorax
42.1k12109207
answered 2 hours ago
SycoraxSycorax
42.1k12109207
42.1k12109207
add a comment |
add a comment |
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$begingroup$
consider "$X_t$" is "number of goals scored in match $t$" and let $Y_t=X_t-X_{t-1}$. (i.e. the change in goals scored from the previous game). $Y_t$ is discrete but can clearly be negative.
$endgroup$
– Glen_b♦
2 hours ago