Final answer:
The independent variable in the experiment is the use of fertilizer on plants, as it is the factor being manipulated to observe its effect on plant height.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the described experiment, the independent variable is the use of fertilizer on the plants. This is because the independent variable is what the scientist changes or manipulates in the experiment. Group A, which did not receive any fertilizer, serves as the control group, and Group B, which was given fertilizer, is the experimental group. The goal of the experiment is to observe the effects of the independent variable on the dependent variable, which in this case is the height of the plants. It is crucial for the validity of the experiment that all other conditions, such as the amount of water, type of flower, and amount of sunlight, are kept constant to ensure that any differences in growth are attributed to the fertilizer alone.
The independent variable in the experiment is the presence or absence of fertilizer. This is because the researcher wants to test the effects of fertilizer on plant growth, and the presence or absence of fertilizer is what is being manipulated.
The dependent variable is the height of the plants. This is the variable that is being measured to determine the effect of the independent variable.
Other factors that should be controlled in the experiment include amount of water, type of flower, and amount of sunlight. These factors should be kept the same in both groups to ensure that any differences in plant growth can be attributed to the independent variable.