If light intensity is on the x-axis and plant height is measured as the response, which variable is the dependent variable?

• A. Light intensity
• B. Plant height
• C. Time
• D. Soil type

Answer: (B)

In a plot, the dependent variable is the one you measure in response to something you change. The thing you deliberately vary is the independent variable. Here, light intensity is on the x-axis, meaning it’s the factor you adjust. The plant height is what you measure as light intensity changes, so plant height is the dependent variable. Time or soil type aren’t described as the measured response here, and they aren’t the variable being tracked as light intensity varies, so they don’t fit as the dependent variable.