Continuous data can take on any value, while discrete data can only take on specific values.
For example, if x is a continuous value from 1 to 5, this means it can be any value, whole or fractioned, from 1 to 5: 1 or 1.7, or 2.1, or 3, or... While, if x is a discrete value from 1 to 5, it can only be either 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.
A good example of continuous data is temperature. This form of data can take on any decimal fraction, depending on the actual temperature. The fractioning can be endless. The possible values continuous data can take on are theoretically infinite.
A good example of discrete data is the dice roll, which can take on a series of distinct whole numbers, determined by the number of sides it has. Discrete data can take on a finite number of distinct values
Computers, whether the ancient models that were purely mechanical, or the modern computers that are electrical, are built upon a mechanism of discrete values: possible switch positions, and possible combinations of switch positions. In Babbage's mechanical computer these were limited by sets of 10 possible positions per switch, labeled 0 to 9, while in modern computing they are built on only 2 possible switch positions. These 2 positions are labeled 0, which is defined by a low voltage of electric current, and 1, which is defined by a high voltage of electric current.
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