Braden is making apple turnovers for his friends. The number of turnovers he can make is determined by how many apples he has at home.

t = the number of turnovers Braden can make
a = the number of apples Braden has at home

Which of the variables is independent and which is dependent?

The independent variable in this situation is the number of apples Braden has at home (a). The number of turnovers Braden can make (t) is dependent on the number of apples he has at home. As the number of apples changes, the number of turnovers he can make also changes.