Independent and Dependent Variables Examples Page 2

Tara throws a party every month. The number of cupcakes Tara bakes depends on how many kids will be at the party. Tara likes to have two cupcakes per kid. Let c be a variable representing the number of cupcakes Tara bakes, and let k be a variable representing the number of kids who will be at the party. You can also let l represent Tara's sense of inner loneliness, but that one won't play a part in this particular equation: c = 2 · k.Which variables vary in this situation?

Since the number of kids at the party can vary from month to month, k varies. Since c depends on k, c varies also. Here's hoping Tara gets a lot of k next month and needs to make a boatload of c's. Go get 'em, Tara.

Notice that, in both of the previous examples, we used letters for our variables that were chosen specifically to remind us what they represented: c for cupcakes and k for kids. We have mainly been using x and y all along, but there is no rule saying we can't give the rest of the alphabet a chance. So, whenever possible, use variables that seem more intuitive. Your brain will thank you for it.