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I have a graph where I show number of boxes that a machine can service per minute. The data may not always give a whole number (for example, a machine may be able to service 2.3 boxes / per minute).

I am wondering how to label the axes on this graph.

I have observed that number tends to be used for integer quantities (for instance, number of people, or *number of potatoes), whereas amount is used for uncountable quantities, that often have fractions (such as 1.5 gallons of paint).

Which should I use to label my graph, number of boxes or amount of boxes?

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    This is really more of a math question. Perhaps you should try math.stackexchange.com.
    – Robusto
    Commented May 1, 2011 at 11:15
  • I have edited your question to make it more clearly on topic. I hope I have not changed the meaning of it too much - if so, please feel free to comment here and/or edit the question further.
    – psmears
    Commented May 1, 2011 at 12:21
  • @psmears: Thanks. This makes more sense at EL&U now. I tried to delete my close vote, but I see there is no mechanism to do that.
    – Robusto
    Commented May 1, 2011 at 13:24

3 Answers 3

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The distinction made in English is slightly different to the one made in mathematics. Here the distinction is between countable and uncountable nouns.

For countable nouns (such as person, dog, pen and box):

  • a/an are used to refer to one (indefinite) item
  • Number is used to describe how many

For uncountable nouns (such as sugar, paint and so on):

  • some is used to refer to an (indefinite) quantity
  • amount (or another word, such as quantity) is used to describe how much

Note that this is a property of the nouns, rather than the substances involved - so I would say some paint, but a gallon of paint, since gallon is countable (even though I'm still talking about paint).

In this example, since you are talking about boxes, which are countable, it sounds better to use number - even though the number in question might not be a whole number.

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Even though you're not giving an integral number of boxes, so you should use number of boxes per minute, because the correct term for measuring boxes is number and not amount.

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It sounds something like a question about continuous versus discrete variables, but "discrete" does not mean "integer". I am not sure there is a special word for a graph that shows non-integral values...it's not like you are "smoothing" the graph, right?

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