Help With Variables
Can someone explain and give me some more examples of independent and dependent variables for science? My example would be M&M's color and % of how many of each color are in a bag, what would be the independent and dependent varible? Thanks.
August 22, 2012
8 Comments • Newest first
@ClementZ: Thank you !
@alex3650: I'm not sure, because you don't control either variable. You cannot control how many of each M&M color is in the bag, nor can you control the percent composition of each color.
I think the independent would be M&M color, and the dependent would be % (seeing as % is dependent upon color, which isn't dependent upon anything.)
[quote=ClementZ]Independent is the one you control.
Dependent is what you're testing[/quote]
What about in my case? I get a table for M&M Color with the % of how much of each is in the bag, adding up to 100%. What would the independent variable and dependent variable be?
[quote=Demonlord][b]Why couldn't my science teacher say that![/b] A short simple explanation would of helped me a lot. My attention span did not allow me to listen to their explanations for independent and dependent, and now I find out there's a control? Wanna tell me what a control variable is?[/quote]
A "control variable" is not the variable you control.
The control variable is the variable that stays constant.
The independent variable, is the one that you normally have control of; the one that you can change to alter the results.
The dependent variable is that which is dependent upon the changes of the independent variable.
DW, the explanations need to be lengthy. There aren't many synonyms for "control," "dependent," and "independent," so lengthy clarification is often needed.
Using 2 of the same species of plants and putting one in the sun and one inside of the closet. The placement of the flower is your independent variable and the dependant variable is the rate of growth of the plants.
Lets say you have a Time vs. Temperature graph.
Your independent variable (if you're graphing it) would be your x-axis. This is basically what doesn't rely on the other to have its value changed. The time would not rely on the temperature making it independent.
The temperature, on the other hand, does rely on the elapsed time meaning it's the dependent variable which is graphed on the y-axis.
Er, to be quite honest, I'd think that the M&M's colour would be the independent and the % is dependent but I'm not 100% sure. I mean it would make sense that way but double check.
Dependent variables are the results, they depend on the independent variable.
Independent variables are variables that can be controlled and modified.
Independent is the one you control.
Dependent is what you're testing