Which term denotes a variable (often denoted by y) whose value depends on that of another?

Which term denotes a variable (often denoted by y) whose value depends on that of another?

• A. Mean
• B. Independent variable
• C. Dependent variable
• D. Median

Answer: (C)

In a relationship between variables, the quantity that changes in response to another is the dependent variable. It is often denoted by y, while the other variable that you vary or control is the independent variable (often denoted by x). The key idea is that the dependent variable’s value depends on what happens with the independent variable. For example, if you’re studying how test scores (the dependent variable) change as study hours (the independent variable) increase, the score depends on the amount of studying. That dependence is exactly what the term describes. Mean and median aren’t variables in a relationship—they’re measures of central tendency, used to summarize data. The independent variable is the input you control or manipulate, not the output that depends on something else.

In a relationship between variables, the quantity that changes in response to another is the dependent variable. It is often denoted by y, while the other variable that you vary or control is the independent variable (often denoted by x). The key idea is that the dependent variable’s value depends on what happens with the independent variable.

For example, if you’re studying how test scores (the dependent variable) change as study hours (the independent variable) increase, the score depends on the amount of studying. That dependence is exactly what the term describes.

Mean and median aren’t variables in a relationship—they’re measures of central tendency, used to summarize data. The independent variable is the input you control or manipulate, not the output that depends on something else.