Question

From each verbal description, identify the independent and dependent variables.

a.) a tree grows approximately 6 inches per year and is 10 feet tall when planted.

b.) When a swimmer gets 8 hours of sleep the night before, she is able to complete a 200-meter swim in 3 minutes. When she only gets 6 hours of sleep, it takes her 3.16 minutes to complete the swim

Answer 1

a) The independent variable is time in years (y) and the final height of the tree (H) after y years is the required dependent variable.

b) The time of sleeping of the swimmer in hours (T) before his swimming is the independent variable and the time that the swimmer takes to complete the swimming of 200-meters after sleeping for T hours is the dependent variable given in minutes (t).

Explanation:

a) The tree grows approximately 6 inches per year and is 10 feet tall when planted.

Here, the independent variable is time in years (y) and the final height of the tree (H) after y years is the required dependent variable.

b) When a swimmer gets 8 hours of sleep the night before, she is able to complete a 200-meter swim in 3 minutes. When she only gets 6 hours of sleep, it takes her 3.16 minutes to complete the swim.

Here, the time of sleeping of the swimmer in hours (T) before his swimming is the independent variable and the time that the swimmer takes to complete the swimming of 200-meters after sleeping for T hours is the dependent variable given in minutes (t). (Answer)