Which type of variable is the one that you change in an experiment?

Which type of variable is the one that you change in an experiment?

• A. Independent Variable
• B. Dependent Variable
• C. Control
• D. Constant

Answer: (A)

The variable you intentionally change is the independent variable. You decide its value to test how it affects the outcome, so you’re free to set it and observe what happens. For example, if you’re testing how light affects plant growth, you’d vary the amount of light and see how plant height responds. The thing you measure in response is the dependent variable—the result that depends on the level of the independent variable. A control is a baseline setup kept the same as much as possible to compare against the changed condition, helping you see what effect the change actually had. Constants are all the other factors kept unchanged across all trials to ensure a fair test. Since the question asks which variable you change, the independent variable is the best answer.

The variable you intentionally change is the independent variable. You decide its value to test how it affects the outcome, so you’re free to set it and observe what happens. For example, if you’re testing how light affects plant growth, you’d vary the amount of light and see how plant height responds. The thing you measure in response is the dependent variable—the result that depends on the level of the independent variable. A control is a baseline setup kept the same as much as possible to compare against the changed condition, helping you see what effect the change actually had. Constants are all the other factors kept unchanged across all trials to ensure a fair test. Since the question asks which variable you change, the independent variable is the best answer.