Independent and Dependent

A caterer sets up a dining room for a reception with six chairs at each round table. Which statement is true about this relationship?

• A The number of chairs used is the dependent variable.

• B The number of tables used is the dependent variable.

• C The number of chairs used is the independent variable.

• D The number of guests at the reception is the independent variable.

What is the independent quantity in this situation?

• The number of hamburgers.

• The number of slices of tomatoes

• The number of days the store is open

• The number of slices of tomatoes on each hamburger

What is the independent variable in this relationship?

• The distance traveled

• The rate traveled

• The time traveled

• The number of members in the family

What is the dependent quantity in this relationship?

• The amount the account increases each week

• The number of weeks Sheila has added money to the account

• The total amount in the account

• The amount in the account when she started adding to it weekly

The graph shows the relationship between the number of pints and the number of cups.

What statement is true based on the graph?

• A The number of cups depends upon the number of pints.

• B The number of pints depends upon the number of cups.

• C There is no dependent quantity in this relationship.

• D There is no independent quantity in this relationship.

Susie used small hexagons to use as a border on her bulletin board. The table below shows the relationship between the number of hexagons and the number of sides.

What is the independent quantity in this relationship shown in the table?

• F The number of hexagons

• G The number of sides

• H The number of angles

• J The number of vertices

The length of a rectangle is 3 more than twice the width of the rectangle. The table below shows dimensions of a rectangle with this relationship. What is the dependent quantity in this relationship?

• length of the rectangle

• Width of the rectangle

• perimeter of the rectangle

• area of the rectangle

On a map, 1 centimeter represents 25 miles. The graph below shows this relationship.

What is the independent quantity shown on the graph?

• F The distance you are traveling

• G The number of miles

• H The number of centimeters

• J Not here

David is buying a corsage for his date. The relationship between the cost of a corsage and the number of flowers in the corsage is shown below. What is the independent quantity in this relationship?

• F The cost of the corsage

• G The number of flowers in the corsage

• H The amount of money David has to spend

• J The type of flowers used in the corsage

The table below shows the number of tablespoons of coffee grounds to use when brewing a pot of coffee.

What is the dependent quantity in this relationship?

• A Number of people drinking coffee

• B Cups of brewed coffee

• C Number of tablespoons of coffee grounds

• D Amount of water used