Question

Read the paragraph and answer the questions.

Chris wanted to test the effect of diet pills on how tall the tomato plants in his garden would grow. He took two pots, filled them with dirt from the same bag, and planted four tomato plants in each. He watered one planter with tap water, and he watered the other planter with tap water mixed with dissolved diet pills. The plants were in the same location to ensure they got the same amount of sunlight, and the water was measured so that each pot received the same amount of water. He measured their height at the end of each week for eight weeks, and averaged the height of the four plants in each pot. He then graphed the results to show how the diet pills affected the height of the plants. 1. What is the independent variable of this experiment?

2. What is the dependent variable of this experiment?

Answer 1

The independent variable is the water used on the plants.

The dependent variable is the height of the plants.

Because the water is what Chris changed, it's the independent variable. Because the height of the plant is the thing getting affected, or the result of the water, its the dependent variable.