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Dependent and independent variables review

Identify dependent and independent variables and apply them to contexts.

Independent variable

An independent variable is a variable that represents a quantity that is being manipulated in an experiment.
x is often the variable used to represent the independent variable in an equation.

Example:

You are doing chores to earn your allowance. For each chore you do, you earn $3.
What is the independent variable?
The independent variable is the amount of chores you do because this is the variable you have control over.

Dependent variables

A dependent variable represents a quantity whose value depends on how the independent variable is manipulated.
y is often the variable used to represent the dependent variable in an equation.

Example:

Let's use the same context.
You are doing chores to earn your allowance. For each chore you do, you earn $3.
What is the dependent variable?
The dependent variable is the amount of money you earn because the amount of money you earn depends on how many chores you do.
Want to learn more about independent and dependent variables? Check out this video.

Practice

Problem 1
You are buying boxes of cookies at a bakery. Each box of cookies costs $4.
Which of the following statements are true?
Choose all answers that apply:

Want to try more problems like this? Check out this exercise.

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