determine if this statistical study is descriptive or inferential a study finds that 51% of registered voters favor candidate x over candidate y

At this point it is descriptive. If you want to generalize this data to something else, it would be inferential.

To determine if this statistical study is descriptive or inferential, we need to understand the difference between the two.

Descriptive statistics aims to describe or summarize data by providing insights and patterns about a sample or population. It involves organizing, analyzing, and interpreting data using measures such as averages, percentages, and graphs. Descriptive statistics helps in understanding the characteristics of a group or the relationships between variables within the data.

Inferential statistics, on the other hand, involves reaching conclusions or making predictions about a population based on a sample. It involves generalizing the findings from a sample to a larger population, using probability theory and hypothesis testing.

Now, let's apply this knowledge to the study you mentioned. Since the study finds that 51% of registered voters favor candidate X over candidate Y, it is describing the percentage of favorability among registered voters. It is providing a summary or description of the data collected from the registered voters. Therefore, this study is descriptive in nature.

If the study had collected data from a sample of registered voters and aimed to make conclusions about the entire population of registered voters, it would involve inferential statistics. In that case, the study would make inferences or predictions about the larger population based on the findings from the sample.

In conclusion, since the study you mentioned is simply reporting the percentage of favorability among registered voters, it is descriptive in nature.