What does independent variable and dependent variable mean?

Question

I am helping my son with homework. He is doing a "Change in Temperature rc" experiment and recording the changes by adding 1 then 2 then 3 spoonfuls of calcium chloride. I have been out of school for so long and don't use this practice in my line of work so feel pretty ignorant right now. This is only 7th grade work!

Answer 1

An independent variable is one that you can select and/or change at will. The dependent variable is one whose value may then itself change, as a consequence.

So, if you have a physical system, the property you have control over is the independent variable. In your son's case, it's the amount of calcium chloride. The dependent variable is the temperature, which changes as a result of adding extra calcium chloride.

If he wants to graph his results, the values for the amount of calcium chloride should correspond to numbers along the usual 'x'-axis; the temperature to numbers along the 'y'-axis.

(Traditionally, in a mathematical (x,y) plot like this, x is generally considered the independent mathematical variable, and y the dependent one. But actually, the situation is really less clear-cut, as one could often choose to be perverse, and plot 'y' horizontally and 'x' vertically! Who's to know? Your son's case is clearer as the physical act of adding the calcium chloride is responsible for the consequence of the temperature changing.)

I hope that helps. Good luck with your own future help.

Live long and prosper.

Answer 2

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RE:
What does independent variable and dependent variable mean?
I am helping my son with homework. He is doing a "Change in Temperature rc" experiment and recording the changes by adding 1 then 2 then 3 spoonfuls of calcium chloride. I have been out of school for so long and don't use this practice in my line of work so feel pretty ignorant...

Answer 3

independent variable not depend at fixed value while dependent variable depend in between given value

Answer 4

if a function depends on two variables x, y. and if you can change one of them arbitrary as per ur choice, it becomes independent, the other becomes dependent if the relation between the two is fixed.
for eg:
x^2 + y^2 =8
so u give any no. of values to x, value of y become restricted by it and by above eq. so x is ind and y is dep.

Answer 5

independent variable is the one which when changed changes the dependent variable.
here the addition of CaCl2 is causing change in temp.
so the amount of CaCl2 is the independent variable and the temp is the dependent variable