QuestionThe costs of different weights of onions sold at a grocery store are shown in the table below. What are the independent and dependent variables in this situation?
Cost for Onions
\begin{tabular}{|c|c|}
\hline Weight of Onions (Pounds) & Total Cost \\
\hline 0.6 & \\
\hline 1.3 & \\
\hline 2.5 & \\
\hline 3.7 & \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
Studdy Solution
STEP 1
What is this asking?
We need to figure out which variable depends on the other: the weight of the onions or the total cost.
Watch out!
Don't get tricked by the way the table is presented!
Sometimes the independent variable isn't in the first column.
Think about what makes sense in the real world.
STEP 2
1. Analyze the Relationship
2. Identify the Independent Variable
3. Identify the Dependent Variable
STEP 3
Let's think about how these variables relate to each other in a real-world grocery store.
Does the weight of the onions depend on how much they cost, or does the cost depend on the weight?
It's the second one!
The more onions you buy (the greater the weight), the more you pay.
STEP 4
The **independent variable** is the one we can change freely.
In this case, we can choose how many pounds of onions we want to buy.
So, the independent variable is the **weight of the onions**.
STEP 5
The **dependent variable** is the one that *depends* on the independent variable.
Here, the total cost *depends* on the weight of the onions.
Heavier onions, higher cost!
So, the dependent variable is the **total cost**.
STEP 6
The independent variable is the **weight of the onions (in pounds)**, and the dependent variable is the **total cost** .
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