DEPENDENT AND INDEPENDENT VARIABLES WORD PROBLEMS WORKSHEET

Problem 1 :

Mary can make 5 hairbows every hour. Which is the independent variable?

a. Number of hours Mary makes bows

b. Number of hairbows made per hour

c. Total number of hairbows that Mary made

d. Price of each hairbow

Solution

Problem 2 :

The formula for the circumference of a circle is

C = πd

where C is the circumference and d is the diameter. Identify the dependent variable.

Solution

Problem 3 :

Select all of the scenarios below that correctly identify the independent variable.

a. Charlie gets paid by the hour. The number of hours he works is the independent variable.

b. Oscar likes to go for drives in the car. The cost of the trip increases as the distance he travels increases. The distance is the independent variable.

c. How much Caleb weighs is relative to the amount he eats. The amount he weighs is the independent variable.

d. The more Mark practices his golf swing, the better he becomes at hitting the ball. The amount of time he practices is the independent variable.

Solution

Problem 4 :

What is the dependent variable in the following equation?

y = 3x + 9

a. x       b. 3       c. 9         d. y

Solution

Problem 5 :

Which is the independent variable in the following equation?

y = 3x + 9

a. x      b. 3       c. 9      d. y

Solution

Problem 6 :

Your car can travel 17 miles on a gallon of gas. Which is the independent variable?

a. Total number of miles you travel

b. Number of gallons of gas you have in the tank

c. Number of miles you travel on a gallon of gas

d. Total number of hours you travel 

Solution

Problem 7 :

As a babysitter, you earn $5 for every hour you babysit. Which is the dependent variable?

a. Amount of money you earn per hour

b. Number of hours you babysit

c. Total amount of money you earn

d. Number of children you babysit

Solution