Is she asking which side is the dependent ( x vs y) or is she wanting more information than that?
I emailed my teacher but she never responded.
Thank you.
I emailed my teacher but she never responded.
Thank you.
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if you have an equation like
y = 3x + 2
for example
x is the independent variable (or input variable, if you like) and y is the dependent (or output variable)
This is because, the value of y "depends" on what value you give for x
For example if x = 5, then y must equal 3*5 + 2 = 17
Also, by convention, when drawing a graph, the x-axis is the horizontal axis, while the y-axis is vertica. So if your looking at a graph, you run your eye along the x-axis, pick out a point on that axis, then imagine a vertical line from that point which meets the graph. From that point imagine a horizontal line that meets the y-axis. That's the value for y, given the particular value of x.
Another term is to say that y is a function of x. that is, whatever the input x, there will be an output y.
The rule is what you need to do to get the output y. In the above example, the rule was 3x+2.
Think of making a slice of toast. The input x is the slice of bread. The rule is "Heat the bread under the grill and then add butter." The output y is a slice of buttered toast!
So using the equation
y = 3x + 2
Input x, say -7
Apply the rule:
Multiply 7 by 3 (-21)
Add 2 (-19)
y = -19 is the output, when 7 is the input.
I hope that clears things up for you.
(I fancy some toast......)
y = 3x + 2
for example
x is the independent variable (or input variable, if you like) and y is the dependent (or output variable)
This is because, the value of y "depends" on what value you give for x
For example if x = 5, then y must equal 3*5 + 2 = 17
Also, by convention, when drawing a graph, the x-axis is the horizontal axis, while the y-axis is vertica. So if your looking at a graph, you run your eye along the x-axis, pick out a point on that axis, then imagine a vertical line from that point which meets the graph. From that point imagine a horizontal line that meets the y-axis. That's the value for y, given the particular value of x.
Another term is to say that y is a function of x. that is, whatever the input x, there will be an output y.
The rule is what you need to do to get the output y. In the above example, the rule was 3x+2.
Think of making a slice of toast. The input x is the slice of bread. The rule is "Heat the bread under the grill and then add butter." The output y is a slice of buttered toast!
So using the equation
y = 3x + 2
Input x, say -7
Apply the rule:
Multiply 7 by 3 (-21)
Add 2 (-19)
y = -19 is the output, when 7 is the input.
I hope that clears things up for you.
(I fancy some toast......)
-
the dependent variable is the variable that changes according to the value of the other (independent) variable.
for example, given the function y = 2x + 3, the value of y DEPENDS on the value of x, because if x = 3, then y will equal 2(3) + 3 = 9.
y is the dependent variable, because it depends on the value of x, the independent variable.
y can be written as "f(x)" to more clearly portray this relationship. "f(x)" means "function of x," which means that the value "f(x)" depends on the value of x; f(x) being the dependent variable, as it depends on the value of x, the independent variable.
y = f(x)
for example, given the function y = 2x + 3, the value of y DEPENDS on the value of x, because if x = 3, then y will equal 2(3) + 3 = 9.
y is the dependent variable, because it depends on the value of x, the independent variable.
y can be written as "f(x)" to more clearly portray this relationship. "f(x)" means "function of x," which means that the value "f(x)" depends on the value of x; f(x) being the dependent variable, as it depends on the value of x, the independent variable.
y = f(x)
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You forgot to give us the graph.