What does it mean that the y-value is a dependent variable?

What does it mean that the y-value is a dependent variable?

• A. Its value is determined by the value of the independent variable, x.
• B. It is always larger than the x-value.
• C. It is the input variable.
• D. It does not change with x.

Answer: (A)

The y-value is the dependent variable: its value is determined by the value you pick for x. In a function, x is the input (the independent variable) and y is found from the rule that links x to y, so changing x causes y to change accordingly. That’s why y depends on x. It doesn’t have to be larger than x, and it’s not the input variable. While y could stay the same if the rule gives a constant output for some x-values, the general idea is that y changes in response to x.

The y-value is the dependent variable: its value is determined by the value you pick for x. In a function, x is the input (the independent variable) and y is found from the rule that links x to y, so changing x causes y to change accordingly. That’s why y depends on x. It doesn’t have to be larger than x, and it’s not the input variable. While y could stay the same if the rule gives a constant output for some x-values, the general idea is that y changes in response to x.