Discrete variables are variables that can take on only specific values in a range and are usually counted.

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SUPPORTED

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6 sources for · 0 against

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Is it true that discrete variables are variables that can take on only specific values in a range and are usually counted?

Yes. Multiple reliable statistical references confirm that discrete variables can only take on specific, countable values within a range and typically arise from counting processes.

Verdict: SUPPORTED · 6 sources for, 0 against · Last checked 4 Oct 2026

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Evidence for · 6

Wikipedia: Random variable

Reference article covering this claim directly

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Wikipedia: Random variable. (n.d.). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random_variable

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More for · 5

LibreTexts: LibreTexts: 5.01: Introduction

States discrete random variables take particular values in a range and arise from counting.

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LibreTexts: LibreTexts: 5.01%3A Introduction. (n.d.). LibreTexts. https://stats.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_Statistics/Mostly_Harmless_Statistics_(Webb)/05%3A_Discrete_Probability_Distributions/5.01%3A_Introduction

NIST/SEMATECH: 3.1.3.5. Process Models - NIST/SEMATECH e-Handbook of Statistical Methods

Lists examples of discrete variables involving particle counts and finite ranges.

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NIST/SEMATECH: 3.1.3.5. Process Models - NIST/SEMATECH e-Handbook of Statistical Methods. (n.d.). NIST/SEMATECH. https://www.itl.nist.gov/div898/handbook/ppc/section1/ppc135.htm

OpenIntro; Diez, Cetinkaya-Rundel, Barr: 1.2 Data basics - OpenIntro Statistics, Fourth Edition

Explains that population count is discrete because it takes specific numerical values with jumps.

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OpenIntro; Diez, Cetinkaya-Rundel, Barr: 1.2 Data basics - OpenIntro Statistics, Fourth Edition. (n.d.). OpenIntro; Diez, Cetinkaya-Rundel, Barr. https://www.openintro.org/go/?id=os4_for_screen_reader#page=14

OpenStax: OpenStax Statistics: 4.1 Probability Distribution Function (PDF) for a Discrete Random Variable

States values of discrete random variables are countable and obtained by counting.

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OpenStax: OpenStax Statistics: 4.1 Probability Distribution Function (PDF) for a Discrete Random Variable. (n.d.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/statistics/pages/8d904ee0-ebf6-4907-b106-81ac2328cda2@

Semantic Scholar peS2o: A Systematic Review of INGARCH Models for Integer-Valued Time Series

Describes discrete time series taking integer values for counts.

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Semantic Scholar peS2o: A Systematic Review of INGARCH Models for Integer-Valued Time Series. (n.d.). Semantic Scholar peS2o. https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:259269125

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