Statistics, 2ADV EQ-Bank 6 MC

A petrol station records the amount charged to each customer, rounded to the nearest cent. Which statement best describes this random variable?

Discrete, because the charge is rounded and can only take a countable set of values.
Discrete, because the amount charged depends on the number of litres purchased.
Continuous, because the volume of petrol dispensed can take any value within a range.
Continuous, because the amount charged varies between customers.

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\(A\)

Show Worked Solution

Although the underlying volume of petrol is continuous, the amount charged is rounded to the nearest cent, meaning it can only take values from a countable set.
This makes the random variable as defined – the charge – discrete.
Option C is the key distractor: it correctly identifies that volume is continuous, but the question defines the variable as the charge.

\(\Rightarrow A\)