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That's the independent variable.
It can depend on nothing or on an variable which is outside of the scope of the study.
An independent variable is the factor that is manipulated by the experimenter in an effort to study the effects of the change upon the dependent variable.
The answer depends on the context of the study.
A dependent variable is usually on the side of the equation by itself. The independent variable usually has something being done to it. And, the dependent variable is usually written to the left of the equation.