Exercises

For each of the relationships in Exercises 1 – 16, identify the two quantities that vary, and decide which should be represented by an independent variable and which by a dependent variable.

1. The height of a baseball after being hit into the air.
2. The speed of an egg dropped from the tenth floor of a building.
3. The height of an individual as he or she ages.
4. The amount of time it takes a person to run a mile as he or she ages.
5. The amount of money in a savings account over an extended period of time.
6. The size of a person's vocabulary from birth onwards.
7. The number of bacteria in a laboratory culture over a period of time.
8. The daily high temperature at your local airport over a calendar year.
9. The number of students absent from class and the day of the academic year.
10. The temperature of an ice-cold drink left in a warm room over a period of time.
11. The number of hours of daylight and the day of the year.
12. The cost of a pizza and the diameter of the pizza.
13. A safe following distance for your car at a given speed.
14. Ideal weight at a given height, as represented by a chart in your doctor's office.
15. The income tax on a given taxable income.
16. The sales tax on a given purchase.