Independent Variables and Dependent Variables

Identify the independent variable

The number of hamburgers, h, sold and the dollar amount of sales, s taken in

• h

• s

Identify the independent variable

The temperature, t, of water and the number of minutes, m, the water is in the freezer

• t

• m

Identify the independent variable

The pages p, in a book and the weight, w, of the book

• p

• w

Grace is bringing treats to her Algebra 1 class on her birthday. The number of treats she brings is based on the number of students in her class.

Which of the variables is independent?

• number of students

• number of treats

Ty earns $12 per hour. How much money, m, does he earn on a shift of h hours? Identify the dependent variable.

• m: money

• h: hours

The graph shows the distance traveled by Ms. Luce's family on a road trip. They will travel 25 miles each hour. Which statement is true about the situation?

• the independent variable is distance

• the independent variable is d=25 t

• the dependent variable is time

• the dependent variable is distance

The graph shows the cost of mailing a package based on its weight.  Which statement is true about the situation?

• The dependent variable is total cost

• The dependent variable is weight

• The independent variable is total cost

• The independent variable is cost of a package

Identify the dependent variable:
A study was done to find if different tire treads affect the braking distance of a car.

• The car

• The distance the car took to brake 

• The different tire treads

• The drive

Identify the independent variable:
The height of bean plants depends on the amount of water they receive. 

• The bean seed

• The amount of water provided daily

• The amount of sunlight they're exposed to daily

• How tall they grow by the end of the experiment

Asher is planning an experiment to find out how the height from which he drops a ball affects how high the ball bounces. The dependent variable is the _____.

• Diameter of the ball

• Force acting on the ball

• Height that the ball bounces

• Height from which the ball is dropped