IXL | Identify independent and dependent variables in tables and graphs

Ann feeds her dog, Bandit, every morning. The table shows the relationship between the number of days,

and the total number of cups of dog food she gives Bandit,

Days (d)	1	2	3	4
Total cups of dog food (c)	2	4	6	8

Which of the variables is independent and which is dependent?

c is the independent variable, and d is the dependent variable.

d is the independent variable, and c is the dependent variable.

Complete the sentence.

The dependent variable is always the independent variable.

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Learn with an example

question

On busy mornings, Rob heats up a toaster pastry for breakfast. This morning, he saw he was running low on toaster pastries, so he decided to buy more to stock up. The table shows the relationship between the boxes of toaster pastries he buys,

and the total number of boxes he has,

Boxes he buys (b)	1	2	3	4
Total number of boxes (t)	3	4	5	6

Which of the variables is independent and which is dependent?

b is the independent variable, and t is the dependent variable.

t is the independent variable, and b is the dependent variable.

Complete the sentence.

The dependent variable is always the independent variable.

key idea

The variable whose value does not depend on the other variable is the independent variable.

The variable whose value depends on the other variable is the dependent variable.

solution

The table shows, for each number of boxes Rob buys, the total number of boxes he has.

Boxes he buys (b)	1	2	3	4
Total number of boxes (t)	3	4	5	6

The number of boxes,

that Rob buys does not depend on the total number of boxes he has. So, b is the independent variable.

The total number of boxes,

that Rob has depends on how many boxes he buys. So, t is the dependent variable.

Now determine how to find the dependent variable,

from the independent variable,

b	1	2	3	4
t	1 + 2 = 3	2 + 2 = 4	3 + 2 = 5	4 + 2 = 6

The dependent variable,

is always 2 more than the independent variable,

That means Rob had 2 boxes of toaster pastries before he bought more.

Looking for more? Try these:

Lesson: Independent and dependent variables

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Input/output tables: find the rule

R.1Write variable expressions: one operation

Lesson: Independent and dependent variables

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