Hi Jay,
Prof. Usha Mohan has already explained dfference between discrete and continuous varible as well as time series and cross sectional data in her lectures.
I will try to explain once again.
Discrete variable : A discrete variable is one which takes countable values.For example, the number of players playing in a cricket match. The answer to thisquestion can take values as 11, 12, 13, 22 etc.Continuous variable : A continuous variable is a variable that takes any value betweentwo specific data values.For example, the weight measured in kg can take any value between 2 kg and 3 kg.That is, the weight can take values as 2.1 kg or 2.223 kg or 2.1234 etc
If you are measuring the temperature of a particular city e.g. Chennai, at an interval of 30 minutes starting from 9 AM until 9 Pm of a particular day, then it is time series data.
If you are measuring the temperature of 4 metro cities of India at a particular time e.g. 9 AM at a particular day, then it is cross sectional data.
Regards,
Mayur,
Course content support,
IITM oOnlinedegree.