Independent & Dependent Variables

Identify the independent variable:

The pages, p, in a book and the weight, w, of the book.

• p pages

• w weight

Identify the independent variable:

The number of hamburgers, h, sold and the dollar amount of sales, s, taken in.

• h hamburgers sold

• s sales taken in

Identify the dependent variable:

The pounds, p, of flour you buy and the number of bread loaves, b, you want to make.

• p pounds of flour

• b bread loaves

Identify the dependent variable:

The temperature, t, of water and the number of minutes, m, the water is in the freezer

• t temperature of the water

• m minutes in the freezer

The number of oranges in a bag and the cost of the bag of oranges are related. What is the independent variable in this relationship?

• The cost of the bag of oranges

• The number of oranges in the bag

• The grocery store you shop at

The table shows the distance driven by the Williams family each day of their vacation. What is an independent variable that would affect the total distance they drove each day?

• How many people in the family

• How many pets they have

• How many hours they drive per day

• What time it is

Choose the dependent variables that could affect the amount of money the Williams family spends on meals during their vacation. Select the 2 correct answers.

• How many people are in the family.

• If they like candy.

• The name of the town they stop in.

• How often they stop to eat.

The cost of a salad at a restaurant depends on many factors. Choose two dependent variables that would affect the cost of salad.

• The type of lettuce used to make the salad.

• How long the salad sits on the counter.

• The size of the salad.

• The name of the server who gives you the salad.

Julian drove from New York to Florida. Choose two independent variables from the list below that could affect the number of days Julian took to make the trip.

• The type of shoes he was wearing.

• The amount of washer fluid his car had.

• The speed at which he drove.

• How many hours he drove each day.

What is the relationship between t and c in this situation: A server earns t dollars in tips when she serves c customers.

• Both variables are dependent variables.

• Independent variable: t; Dependent variable: c

• Independent variable: c; Dependent variable: t

• Both variables are independent variables.