# Talk:Dummy variable (statistics)

WikiProject Statistics (Rated C-class, High-importance)

This article is within the scope of the WikiProject Statistics, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of statistics on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page or join the discussion.

C  This article has been rated as C-Class on the quality scale.
High  This article has been rated as High-importance on the importance scale.
WikiProject Mathematics (Rated C-class, Low-importance)
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Mathematics, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Mathematics on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.
Mathematics rating:
 C Class
 Low Importance
Field: Probability and statistics

## Unfortunate term

The term "dummy variable" is unfortunate. That term is very appropriate when used to refer to bound variables. Its use in any other way detracts from that. Michael Hardy (talk) 05:45, 27 July 2008 (UTC)

That doesn't reflect common usage. "Bound variable" is the more common term for the latter concept, at least in computer science. David-Sarah Hopwood (talk) 14:15, 27 July 2008 (UTC)
"Bound variable" is NOT the more common term for the latter concept in mathematics at all. In the expression
$\sum_{n=1}^m \cos^2\theta_n,$
any mathematician will understand what you're talking about it you say n is a "dummy" or a "dummy variable", but if you refer to a "bound variable" they'll understand you only if they're familiar with conventions used by those doing research in mathematical logic. Michael Hardy (talk) 16:09, 27 July 2008 (UTC)
Dummy variable is the terminology used in statistic and econometric courses. Since the title of the article refers to statistice, computer science has no relevency in this areaP0PP4B34R732 (talk) 19:50, 13 October 2011 (UTC)