What is a dependent variable?

Answer 1

Mathematics

Y is often used as the "dependent variable" which changes as the independent variable (X) changes, according to the defined function y = f(x).

Experimentation

The dependent variable is what will change in the experiment, based on changes made to the independentvariable. The constant or controlled variable is maintained so that the outcome is dependent on the changes to the factor being studied.

Example : Determining growth of bacteria in various aqueous nutrient solutions.

• The growth rate (what you measure) is the dependent variable.
• The amount of a nutrient added is the independent variable.
• The temperature and humidity are the controlled variables, which are kept the same.

Example: Time is an independent variable, no matter how fast you are going, the amount of time does not change over a specific interval. Distance is a dependent variable. The distance travelled is dependent on how fast you are going over that same interval.

A dependent variable is a value that receives its magnitude due to the magnitude of the other variables in the "equation" or "test" or "experiment".

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In many situations, though, there is no independent variable but two [inter-]dependent variables. This is particularly true of systems in which there is some sort of feedback. For example, changes in the rate of inflation affects the rate of unemploment and changes in the rate of unemployment affects inflation.
A dependent variable is what you measure in the experiment and what is affected during the experiment.