What are dependent and independent variables

Question

Please explain what depedent and independent variables are and please give an example of each and a problem as an example?

Answer 1

An independent variable is a variable that stands alone, and isn't influenced by other factors.

 

Where as a dependent variable usually depends on other things in most cases this will be the independent variable or it could be other dependent variables.

 

My favorite example of this is distance vs time.

 

d=t(rate) where distance is dependent on the amount of time you spend going somewhere at a particular rate. In this equation you have a constant which is the rate and then you have the independent variable time controlling the dependent variable distance. 

 

I hope this helps...

 

h= -t²+2t+15 where h is the height in feet and t is the time in seconds find the independent and dependent variables. When 3 seconds has elapsed how high is the ball? At how many seconds does the ball reach 1 ft?