Independent vs. Dependent Variables

Bob earned $8 for every cake he delivers.

m = money
c = cakes he delivers

The dependent variable is:

• m = money
• c = cakes he delivers

Carrie gets one sticker for every paper she completes.

s = stickers
p = paper

The independent variable is:

• s = stickers
• p = paper

Tim got 3 pieces candy for every house he trick or treated at.

c = candy
h = house

The dependent variable is:

• c = candy
• h = house

Norman gets one treat every time he jumps.

t = treats
j = jumps

The independent variable is:

• t = treats
• j = jumps

Sophie earned $1 for every A she got on her report card.

m = money
A = A on report card

The dependent variable is:

• m = money
• A = A on report card

Lily got one prize for every book she read.

p = prize
b = books she reads

The independent variable is:

• p = prize
• b = books she reads

Kurt 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
Which of the variables the dependent variable?

• r
• g

The number of lifeguards scheduled to work at the community pool on a given day varies depending on how many swimmers are expected to visit the pool on that day.
L = the number of lifeguards scheduled to work
S = the expected number of swimmers
Which of the variables is the independent variable?

• L
• S

Every morning, Krysta runs laps around the track for one hour. The number of laps she is able to run in the hour depends on the speed at which she runs.
r = the number of laps Krysta can run in one hour
s = the speed at which Krysta runs
Which of the variables is the dependent variable?

• r
• s

Which of the following represents the independent variable of the relationship displayed in the table?

• Diameter
• Circumference
• Pi