does a jazz mandolin only have 4 individual strings? if so what is the purpose of it?

Jazz mandolin is really just a mandolin... They do make 4 string mandolins... but those are mostly electric...

  They have the same basic sound, but the tremelo is missing.. because you don't have the double strings, to get that great sound...It is amazing the stuff you can do though with only 4 strings...

   I noticed you also asked about a 5 string mandolin... no, they don't make such a thing... The do make a 5 string banjo with a mandola body, called a Banjola.. and it's 5 strings, and sounds more like a mandola than a banjo...

 very interesting.. anyway... If you want to buy a Mandolin, might I suggest the Epiphone MM-50... great mandolin for the price... looks good too...

           JimK

thanx, that really cleared things up