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Question: What's a variable?

Answer: A variable is an object, event, idea, feeling, time period, or any other type of category you are trying to measure. There are two types of variables-independent and dependent.

Question: What's an independent variable?

Answer: An independent variable is exactly what it sounds like. It is a variable that stands alone and isn't changed by the other variables you are trying to measure. For example, someone's age might be an independent variable. Other factors (such as what they eat, how much they go to school, how much television they watch) aren't going to change a person's age. In fact, when you are looking for some kind of relationship between variables you are trying to see if the independent variable causes some kind of change in the other variables, or dependent variables.

Question: What's a dependent variable?

Answer: Just like an independent variable, a dependent variable is exactly what it sounds like. It is something that depends on other factors. For example, a test score could be a dependent variable because it could change depending on several factors such as how much you studied, how much sleep you got the night before you took the test, or even how hungry you were when you took it. Usually when you are looking for a relationship between two things you are trying to find out what makes the dependent variable change the way it does.

Many people have trouble remembering which is the independent variable and which is the dependent variable. An easy way to remember is to insert the names of the two variables you are using in this sentence in they way that makes the most sense. Then you can figure out which is the independent variable and which is the dependent variable:

(Independent variable) causes a change in (Dependent Variable) and it isn't possible that (Dependent Variable) could cause a change in (Independent Variable).

For example:

(Time Spent Studying) causes a change in (Test Score) and it isn't possible that (Test Score) could cause a change in (Time Spent Studying).

We see that "Time Spent Studying" must be the independent variable and "Test Score" must be the dependent variable because the sentence doesn't make sense the other way around.

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Related Questions

What is independent a dependent variables?

The independent variable is the variable that is altered by the scientist, and the dependent variable's value is dependent on the value of the independent variable.


What causes change in a dependent variable?

The dependent variable is dependent on the independent variable, so when the independent variable changes, so does the dependent variable.


Does the independent or dependent variable change?

The Independent variable is the one you control. The dependent variable is controlled by the Independent Variable.


What is the dependent and independent in a experiment?

The independent variable of an experiment is the variable that you change, and the dependent variable is the result of the independent variable.


Independent and dependent variable?

Math: Independent variable is what you change. Dependent variable is what you measure.


How does the independent variable affects the dependent?

the dependent variable changes based on the independent variable


What is a dependent variable is?

is dependent on the independent variable


What are the differences between independent and dependent variables?

Independent variables are controlled or manipulated by the researcher to determine their effect on the dependent variable. Dependent variables, on the other hand, are the outcome or response that is measured in an experiment. The independent variable causes a change in the dependent variable.


How does the independent and a dependent variable compare in a experiment?

In an experiment, the independent variable is manipulated or controlled by the researcher, while the dependent variable is measured to see the effect of the independent variable. The independent variable is the cause, while the dependent variable is the effect. Changes in the independent variable are expected to cause changes in the dependent variable.


Independent vs dependent variables?

Free from outside control means Independent . While dependent Is opposite.


Why is the output value called the dependent variable?

because it can change according to the independent variable. this dependent variable depends on the independent variable for its output. the independent variable is not affected by the dependent variable because the independent variable if found out first.


What is the definition of an independent and dependent variable?

A independent variable is a particular variable that is being manipulated and the dependent variable is the result of the change of the independent variable. Ex. In an experiment the independent variable is what is being tested and the dependent variable is the result of the test.