Variables

Question 1

What are the different variables?

Answer 1

Independent, dependent and control variables.

Question 2

What are independent variables?

Answer 2

The independent variable is the one condition that you change in an experiment.
Example: In an experiment measuring the effect of temperature on solubility, the independent variable is temperature.
The independent variable goes on the x axis.

Question 3

What are dependent variables?

Answer 3

Just like an independent variable, a dependent variable is exactly what it sounds like. It is something that depends on other factors. For example, a test score could be a dependent variable because it could change depending on several factors such as how much you studied, how much sleep you got the night before you took the test, or even how hungry you were when you took it. Usually when you are looking for a relationship between two things you are trying to find out what makes the dependent variable change the way it does.
The dependent variable goes on the y axis.

Question 4

How can you remember the difference between independent and dependent?

Answer 4

Many people have trouble remembering which is the independent variable and which is the dependent variable. An easy way to remember is to insert the names of the two variables you are using in this sentence in they way that makes the most sense. Then you can figure out which is the independent variable and which is the dependent variable:
(Independent variable) causes a change in (Dependent Variable) and it isn’t possible that (Dependent Variable) could cause a change in (Independent Variable).
For example:
(Time Spent Studying) causes a change in (Test Score) and it isn’t possible that (Test Score) could cause a change in (Time Spent Studying).

Question 5

What is a control variable?

Answer 5

In a scientific experiment, the controlled variable is a factor that the experimenter holds constant and does not allow to change.