An independent variable is a variable that is manipulated to measure the change in another variable, called the dependent variable. It is the variable that can be controlled and there should only be one in any scientific experiment. In mathematics, the independent variable is one whose value does not depend on any other variable.
An independent variable has a variety of meanings, depending on the discipline using the term. In science, for example, it is the variable that is manipulated so that the change in another variable, called the dependent variable, can be measured.
One of the biggest challenges many people face when looking at an independent variable is the fact that all variables depend on something. While that may be true, there is an easy way to determine what this variable is. Simply ask the question: what do I need to change in order to influence, or try to influence, another thing? The thing that needs to be changed would be your independent variable.
Another way to look at it is to understand that this variable is one you can control. This is true for variables in both science and statistics. A dependent variable cannot be controlled, but it can be influenced. For example, adding food coloring to a white carnation to change its color and see how pigmentation may be affected is an independent variable. How much, if at all, the color is affected would be the dependent variable. While you may be able to produce a different color of flower, the extent of the change and how fast it occurs is generally beyond the control of the experimenter.
There should be only one independent variable in any scientific experiment, at least at most levels of experimentation. For those who believe they have more than one of these factors, further reflection should be done to truly understand what might be influencing the experiment. If more than one thing is affecting the experiment, then it will be more difficult to pinpoint an exact cause. Therefore, it is best to keep experiments as controlled as possible, which means having only one independent variable.
In mathematics, the independent variable is one whose value does not depend on any other variable. For example, suppose we have the equation y=x+5. In this case “y” is the dependent variable and “x” is the independent one. This is because the value of “y” depends on the value of “x”. In fact, the value of ‘y’ cannot be determined without knowing the value of ‘x’ due to that dependence. Once the value of the independent variable is provided, finding the value of the dependent variable becomes simple algebra.
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