Connor jogs at a constant rate of 3.5 miles per hour. The table shows the distance traveled for different numbers of hours.
Drag each list, statement, or equation below to show whether it describes the independent quantity, the dependent quantity, or neither.
To determine whether each list, statement, or equation describes the independent quantity, the dependent quantity, or neither, we need to understand the concept of independent and dependent variables.
An independent variable is the variable that we can control or vary in an experiment. It does not depend on any other variable.
A dependent variable, on the other hand, is the variable that is affected by changes in the independent variable. It depends on or is influenced by the independent variable.
Let's evaluate each option based on these criteria.
- "Connor jogs at a constant rate of 3.5 miles per hour": This statement describes the independent quantity because it defines the rate at which Connor is jogging. We can consider the time as the dependent variable in this case.
- "The table shows the distance traveled for different numbers of hours": This statement describes the dependent quantity since the distance traveled depends on the number of hours.
- "Distance = rate × time": This equation describes the dependent quantity because it calculates the distance, which is dependent on both the rate and the time.
- "Time": This list describes the independent quantity since it presents the different numbers of hours, which we can control or vary.
- "Distance traveled": This list describes the dependent quantity because the distance traveled is influenced by the time and rate.
In summary, the independent quantity is time, the dependent quantity is distance traveled, and the equation describes the relationship between the two variables.