A student is investigating the question “Which increases a person’s breathing rate more after three minutes, lifting five-pound weights or lifting ten-pound weights?” She designs an experiment to test the question. Which statement most likely describes the dependent variable in her experiment? The breathing rate is the dependent variable because it can be affected by varying weights. She cannot measure the dependent variable until she finishes the experiment. The time of exercising is the dependent variable because it can be measured. The five- and ten-pound weights are the dependent variable because they can affect the breathing rate.