Final answer:
Variables in mathematics represent unknown quantities in equations or factors that can change and affect outcomes. They are not constants, mathematical operations, or outcomes themselves. Variables are essential for demonstrating the relationships between different quantities, such as in the equation of a line.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the student's question is B) Factors that influence outcomes. In the context of mathematics, variables are symbols, usually letters, that represent unknown quantities in equations or can change and take on different values in a set of data or an experiment.
In an equation, variables are used to show a relationship between quantities. For example, in the equation of a line y = mx + b, x and y are the variables where x is the independent variable that we can choose, and y is the dependent variable that changes in response to x.
The numbers m (the slope) and b (the y-intercept) are constants that determine the shape of the line. To understand how a change in the value of x affects y, you would hold other factors constant and observe the outcome. This illustrates the fact that variables are indeed factors that have an effect on the results or the outcomes investigated.