Hi all, I've been struggling a bit with understanding independent variables on a graph. Could someone explain what it is precisely, and how it affects the graph? I'd really appreciate it. Thank you!
Sure, happy to help clear this up! An independent variable is a variable that is controlled or changed in an experiment or study to test the effects on the dependent variable. On a graph, it's typically represented on the x-axis or horizontal axis.
When you change the independent variable, it directly influences the dependent variable. The dependent variable, represented on the y-axis or the vertical axis, is what you're interested in monitoring during a study or experiment.
For instance, let's suppose you're studying the effect of study hours (the independent variable) on test scores (the dependent variable). You might plot study hours on the x-axis and test scores on the y-axis. By adjusting the study hours, you can observe how it impacts test scores.
So the role of the independent variable on the graph is to be the cause or the influencer of the change. The dependent variable (the one we observe or measure) is the one being influenced.
Hope this addresses your question! Let me know if you have any other queries.
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