Discrete numerical data
Counts such as the number of invoices or employees are commonly discrete and usually whole numbers. A numerical code can still represent a category rather than a count, so consider what the value measures. Discrete data can be summarised with frequencies and numerical statistics when appropriate.
Worked example
A team records the number of invoices processed each day: 10, 12 and 15. These are discrete counts; the dataset does not contain 12.5 invoices.
Common mistake
Classifying a product code as numerical measurement merely because the code contains digits.
Where it appears in your exams
| Qualification | Exam | Relationship | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACCA | MA | Direct | September 2026–June 2027 |
| FIA | FMA | Direct | September 2026–June 2027 |