Independent vs. Dependent Variables

Becky wanted to figure out what type of liquid worked best for growing beans.  She watered one with Coca-Cola, one with lemonade, and one with just water.  After one week, she measured how high they had grown. What is the independent variable?

• Becky
• Soil
• Type of Liquid
• Height Grown

Becky wanted to figure out what type of liquid worked best for growing beans.  She watered one with Coca-Cola, one with lemonade, and one with just water.  After one week, she measured how high they had grown. What is the dependent variable?

• Becky
• Soil
• Type of Liquid
• Height Grown

Bob just bought a brand new corvette. The corvette has no brakes. Bob has four different brands of brakes and he wants to see which set of brakes could slow him down the fastest. What is the independent variable?

• Brand of Brakes
• Slow down speed
• The Corvette
• The tires

Bob just bought a brand new corvette. The corvette has no brakes. Bob has four different brands of brakes and he wants to see which set of brakes could slow him down the fastest. What is the dependent variable?

• Brand of Brakes
• Slow down speed
• The Corvette
• The tires

A frog’s weight depends on the number of flies that it eats per day. What is the independent variable?

• Amount of sunlight
• Air temperature
• Number of flies eaten
• Frog's weight

A frog’s weight depends on the number of flies that it eats per day. What is the dependent variable?

• Amount of sunlight
• Air temperature
• Number of flies eaten
• Frog's weight

Xavier places four different cups of water into four different freezers. Each freezer is set to a different temperature. Xavier measures how long it takes for the water to freeze. What is the independent variable?

• Xavier
• Freezer Temperature
• Time it takes to freeze
• Water

Xavier places four different cups of water into four different freezers. Each freezer is set to a different temperature. Xavier measures how long it takes for the water to freeze. What is the dependent variable?

• Xavier
• Freezer Temperature
• Time it takes to freeze
• Water

Mr. Stoll uses different amounts of sodium and places them into water. Each amount of sodium produces a different size of explosion. What is the independent variable?

• Amount of sodium used
• Size of explosion
• Type of liquid used
• Lack of safety goggles

Mr. Stoll uses different amounts of sodium and places them into water. Each amount of sodium produces a different size of explosion. What is the dependent variable?

• Amount of sodium used
• Size of explosion
• Type of liquid used
• Lack of safety goggles