Question

Explain which is the independent variable and which is the dependent variable for each of the following examples.

(a) Once you determine the price of a notebook at the college bookstore, you will decide how many notebooks to buy.

(b) You will decide how many credit hours to register for this semester once the university tells you how many work-study hours you will be assigned.

(c) You anticipate earning a higher grade on your next economics exam because you studied more hours in the weeks preceding the exam.

Short answer

(a) The price of books is an independent variable and the quantity of notebooks is the dependent variable.

(b) Work-study hours are an independent variable and credit hours to register is the dependent variable.

(c) Hours of study is an independent variable and the economics grade is a dependent variable.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1. Dependent and Independent variables.

Independent variables are those that do not depend on other variables for finding their own value.

Dependent variables are those whose variables depend on the value of other variables.

Step 2. Categorizing.

(a) The price of books is an independent variable and the quantity of notebooks is the dependent variable. This is because the price of the notebook will determine the number of notebooks a person buys.

(b) Work-study hours are an independent variable and credit hours to register is the dependent variable. This is because the credit hours are dependent on his work-study hours for him.

(c) Hours of study is an independent variable and the economics grade is a dependent variable. This is because a higher grade depends on the hours of study he puts in.