$$Which of the following is an example of a discrete random variable?$$

• A. $$The temperature measured to the nearest hundredth of a degree$$
• B. $$The time it takes for a computer to complete a calculation$$
• C. $$The number of heads obtained when flipping a coin three times$$
• D. $$The exact height of a randomly selected student in centimeters$$

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the definition of a discrete random variable: it is a variable that can take on a countable number of distinct values, often integers or counts.
2. Review each option and determine whether the variable is countable (discrete) or continuous (can take any value within a range).
3. For 'The temperature measured to the nearest hundredth of a degree,' recognize that temperature can take many values within an interval, so it is continuous.
4. For 'The time it takes for a computer to complete a calculation,' time is measured on a continuous scale, so this is a continuous random variable.
5. For 'The number of heads obtained when flipping a coin three times,' note that the possible outcomes are 0, 1, 2, or 3 heads, which is a countable set, making this a discrete random variable.