Name:

Period:
Mr. Vaughn
9.3.09 – Independent and dependent variables

All graphs will have independent and dependent variables. The

independent variable is found on the ______ axis and the dependent
variable is found on the _______ axis.

Independent variable –

Dependent variable –

INDEPENDENT = _______ axis. The independent variable is the

_____________.

DEPENDENT = _______ axis. The dependent variable is the

_______________.

If we put the two variables into a chart the Independent Variable will
be the ____________________ and the Dependent Variable will be the
____________.

Let’s say we have a problem dealing with how much money you make
by selling your CD’s. The variable Y will be the money and X will be
number of CD’s sold. The Dependent Variable (Y), which is the money
made, depends on the number of CD’s sold (X) , which is the
Independent Variable.
Let’s use the equation y = 2x + 1

CD’s (X) $ (Y)

(Ind.) (Dep.)

1
2
3

Let’s try to identify the independent and dependent variables in the

following examples:(Circle the independent variable and underline the
dependent variable)
1. I bought socks for erasers the other day. I could have paid $10
for 5 pairs or $6 for 3 pairs.
2. I also played soccer on Monday. I could play for 30 minutes and
burn 400 calories or play for 45 minutes and burn 700 calories.
Name:
Period:
Mr. Vaughn
3. A fire in Los Angeles was 3 acres wide and burned 27 homes. A 6
acre-wide fire burned 43 homes.