Researchers are concerned that the weight of the average American school child is increasing implying, among other things, that children's clothing should be manufactured and marketed in larger sizes. If X is the weight of school children sampled in a nationwide study, then X is an example of
A) a categorical random variable.
B) a discrete random variable.
C) a continuous random variable.
D) a parameter.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The weight of school children is a continuous random variable since it can take on any value within a range (e.g. a child may weigh 68.5 pounds or 69.2 pounds). It is not categorical since it is not a set of distinct categories (e.g. hair color, eye color, etc.). It is also not discrete since it can take on any value within a range (e.g. it is not limited to whole numbers or specific values). Finally, X is not a parameter since a parameter is a fixed value that describes a population, and X is a variable that describes individual children within that population.

Researchers Are Concerned That the Weight of the Average American