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Can the discrete variable be a negative number?


Calculating $R^2$ when one variable can only take integer valuesSemi-discrete probability distributionCharacterizing uncertainty in empirical PMF of unknown discrete random distributionAnomaly Detection with Dummy Features (and other Discrete/Categorical Features)Real life examples of distributions with negative skewnessDiscrete uniform random variable(?) taking all rational values in a closed intervalCorrelation or clustering of continuous score and discrete variable statesIs my random variable discrete or continuous?Correlation and significance testing between continuous and discrete dataMCMC: How to choose an efficient proposal distribution with continuous and discrete variables













2












$begingroup$


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?










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$







  • 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
















2












$begingroup$


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?










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$







  • 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














2












2








2





$begingroup$


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?










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$




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






share|cite|improve this question















share|cite|improve this question













share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question








edited 2 hours ago









Sycorax

42.1k12109207




42.1k12109207










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













  • 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











1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes


















4












$begingroup$

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





share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$












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    1 Answer
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    active

    oldest

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    active

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    4












    $begingroup$

    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





    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$

















      4












      $begingroup$

      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





      share|cite|improve this answer









      $endgroup$















        4












        4








        4





        $begingroup$

        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





        share|cite|improve this answer









        $endgroup$



        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






        share|cite|improve this answer












        share|cite|improve this answer



        share|cite|improve this answer










        answered 2 hours ago









        SycoraxSycorax

        42.1k12109207




        42.1k12109207



























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