Is the total number of fish continuous random variable or discrete variable
I assume you want to consider only whole fish, right?
Discrete
The total number of fish can be considered as a discrete random variable. A random variable is said to be discrete if it only takes on a specific set of values and there are gaps between these values. In the case of counting the number of fish, you can count whole numbers (e.g. 1, 2, 3, etc.) and cannot have fractions or decimals, making it a discrete variable.
The total number of fish can be considered either a continuous random variable or a discrete variable, depending on the context.
In a continuous context, we would treat the number of fish as a continuous random variable. This means that the number of fish can take on any value within a range, such as from 0 to infinity, and can include decimal or fractional values. In this case, we would use a probability density function (PDF) to describe the likelihood of observing a certain number of fish within a given interval.
On the other hand, in a discrete context, we would treat the number of fish as a discrete variable. This means that the number of fish can only take on specific, separate values, usually integers. For example, if we are counting the fish in a fish tank, the number of fish could be 0, 1, 2, 3, and so on. In this case, we would use a probability mass function (PMF) to describe the likelihood of observing a specific number of fish.
To determine whether the total number of fish is a continuous random variable or a discrete variable in a specific situation, you would need to consider the nature of the problem and the characteristics of the data.