IXL | Identify independent and dependent variables in tables and graphs

When Max goes to the grocery store, he likes to go to the bulk foods section to buy his favorite treat, chocolate-covered almonds. The table shows the relationship between the pounds of chocolate-covered almonds he buys,

and the total cost,

Pounds of chocolate-covered almonds (p)	1	2	3	4
Cost (c)	$10	$20	$30	$40

Which of the variables is independent and which is dependent?

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

p 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

Emma got a new 3D printer that can print objects in real life! She wants to print several copies of a toy dinosaur she has modeled. The table shows the relationship between the number of dinosaurs she prints,

and the number of hours,

they take to print.

Dinosaurs (d)	1	2	3	4
Hours (h)	4	8	12	16

Which of the variables is independent and which is dependent?

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

d is the independent variable, and h 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 dinosaurs Emma prints, how many hours they take to print.

Dinosaurs (d)	1	2	3	4
Hours (h)	4	8	12	16

The number of dinosaurs,

that Emma prints does not depend on how many hours they take to print. So, d is the independent variable.

The number of hours,

the dinosaurs take to print depends on how many Emma prints. So, h is the dependent variable.

Now determine how to find the dependent variable,

from the independent variable,

d	1	2	3	4
h	1 4 = 4	2 4 = 8	3 4 = 12	4 4 = 16

The dependent variable,

is always 4 times the independent variable,

That means it takes 4 hours to print each dinosaur.

Looking for more? Try these:

Lesson: Independent and dependent variables

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P.9Add and subtract integers: input/output tables

Lesson: Independent and dependent variables

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