Independent and Dependent Variables

Math 6 - Dependent and Independent Variables

Mrs. Nickodemus

The point (Don't write this down)

• Understand what the independent and dependent variables are and how to tell them apart

• Why? Because this helps you solve word problems and understand how to write expressions

Open Ended

What are things in life that change and you have no control over them?

Independant Variable

• x

• If you change a number in a problem and it changes the end result, that's the independent variable.

• A car accelerates on the interstate and travels 30 miles. The car accelerating is the INDEPENDENT variable because it affects how quickly 30 miles is covered, or how far the car goes, and so on.

Open Ended

What are things in life that YOU can change?

Dependent Variable

• y

• The part of the problem that is affected by a change

• For every student we have in class, we need a desk. Desk is the dependent variable because the number of desks in a classroom depends on the number of students (in this example)

Multiple Choice

Paco's daughter will be participating in an upcoming dance recital. She will require a different costume for each dance she plans to performs.
c = the number of costumes Paco's daughter will require
d = the number of dances Paco's daughter plans to perform
Which of the variables is independent?

• c = the number of costumes
• d = the number of dances

Multiple Choice

What makes up an ordered pair?

• Two random numbers
• An x-value and a y-value
• Two pears
• Two lines

Multiple Choice

The coordinates for the origin in the coordinate plane are________?

• (1,1)
• (0,0)
• (0,1)
• (1,0)

Multiple Choice

Which quadrant has both negative coordinates?

• Quadrant I
• Quadrant II
• Quadrant III
• Quadrant IV

Multiple Choice

Where is point E located?

• ( 2, 0 )
• ( 2 , 2 )
• ( 0 , 2 )
• ( 0 , 0 )

Multiple Choice

A(n) _____________ variable depends on or is changed by another variable.

• dependent
• independent

Multiple Choice

On a graph, which axis shows the dependent variable?

• x-axis
• y-axis
• neither
• it changes

Multiple Choice

On a graph, which axis shows the independent variable?

• x-axis
• y-axis
• neither
• it changes

Multiple Choice

A food service worker earns $12 per hour. If the wages earned depends on the number of hours worked, identify the dependent variable.

• wages earned

• number of hours

Multiple Choice

In the United States House of Representatives, the number of representatives from a state depends on the population.

Which of the variables is independent?

• number of U.S. Representatives

• population

Multiple Choice

In order to earn extra spending money, Delaney babysits children after school. The greater the number of hours she babysits, the more money she earns.

Which of the variables is dependent?

• number of hours worked

• money earned

Multiple Choice

Sarah is participating in a walk-a-thon to raise money for local reading programs. The amount of money Sarah will raise depends on the distance she walks.

Which of the variables is dependent?

• amount of money raised

• distance walked

Multiple Choice

Carey and Justin are raising money to purchase books for the library. The more money they raise, the more books they will be able to purchase for the library.

Which of the variables is dependent?

• amount of money raised

• number of books purchased after raising the money

Multiple Choice

Sarah is bringing treats to her elementary school 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

Open Ended

What is an independent variable? What is a dependent variable?