Dependent and Independent Variables in Math

Molly harvests mushrooms in the forests of Oregon and then sells them to local restaurant chefs. The greater the weight of the mushrooms, the greater their value.

w = the weight of the mushrooms

v = the value of the mushrooms

• v is the independent variable and w is the dependent variable

• w is the independent variable and v is the dependent variable

A team from the Department of Public Works is painting lines of the freeway. The number of hours needed to finish the project depends on the length of road that needs to be lined.

h = the number of hours needed

r = the length of road

• h is the independent variable and r is the dependent variable

• r is the independent variable and h is the dependent variable

Zach and his friends are at an arcade and are redeeming their tickets for prizes. The number of prizes they can get is calculated based on how many tickets they have won.

p = the number of prizes the friends can get

t = the number of tickets the friends have won

• t is the independent variable and p is the dependent variable

• p is the independent variable and t is the dependent variable

While on vacation, Heather plans to write some postcards to her friends. The number of postcards she can send depends on how many stamps she has.

p = the number of postcards Heather can send

s = the number of stamps Heather has

• p is the independent variable and s is the dependent

• s is the independent variable and p is the dependent

Belle manages the Hancock Orchard, which produces many different types of fruit, including pears. The more pear trees that have been planted in the orchard, the more barrels of pears the orchard will produce.

p = the number of pear trees that have been planted in the orchard

b = the number of barrels of pears the orchard will produce

• p is the independent variable and b is the dependent

• b is the independent variable and p is the dependent

At a fancy dinner party, the number of forks set out by the hostess is based on how many courses will be served.

f = the number of forks set out by the hostess

c = the number of courses served during dinner

• f is the independent variable and c is the dependent variable

• c is the independent variable and f is the dependent variable

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The students at Middletown High School are collecting food for a local food bank. The number of trucks needed to deliver the food to the food bank will depend on the amount of food collected.

t = the number of trucks needed to deliver the food

f = the amount of food collected

• t is the independent variable and f is the dependent variable

• f is the independent variable and t is the dependent variable

Dan is wrapping gifts to earn money for camp. He calculates the amount of wrapping paper he needs based on the number of gifts.

r = the number of rolls of wrapping paper

g = the number of gifts

• g is the independent variable and r is the dependent variable

• r is the independent variable and g is the dependent variable

Kimi is making a scrapbook. As she adds more photos, the scrapbook grows thicker.

p = the number of photos added

t = the thickness of the scrapbook

• t is the independent variable and p is the dependent variable

• p is the independent variable and t is the dependent variable

Allen is buying birthday candles for his grandmother's birthday cake. Her age, in years, will determine how many boxes of candles Allen will purchase.

y = Allen's grandmother's age, in years

b = how many boxes of candles Allen will purchase

• b is the independent variable and y is the dependent variable

• y is the independent variable and b is the dependent variable