Which variable causes a change in the other variable?
Independent Variable: m Dependent Variable: h
Practice makes perfect
We want to identify the independent and dependent variables of the given equation.
h=60-4m
This equation represents height h of the water in a tank m minutes after it starts to drain. To identify which variable is independent and which is dependent, we need to analyze which variable causes a change in the other variable.
Independent Variable: Causes change in the dependent variable.
Dependent Variable: Changes because of the independent variable.
The number of minutes after it starts to drain causes the height of the water to increase. In other words, the height h depends on the minutes after it starts to rain. Therefore, m is the independent variable and h is the dependent variable.
