Practice Identifying Variables
Name: _______________________Per.____
Define IV: ________________________________________________________________________________
Define DV: ________________________________________________________________________________
Define “Constants”: _________________________________________________________________________
IV = independent variable DV = dependent variable
Identify the types of variables in each written statement. READ CAREFULLY!
1. A study was done to find if fuel types affect the engine’s performance in a car.
Independent Variable: fuel type
Dependent Variable: engine performance
LT: I can define
independent variable
(IV), dependent variable
(DV), and constant and
identify each in an
experiment. ____
Constants: car, driver, driving location and speed
2. An experiment was performed to determine the health effects of different amounts of second-hand smoke on
one-year old hamsters.
Independent Variable: _________________________________________________________________
Dependent Variable: __________________________________________________________________
Constants: ___________________________________________________________________________
3. A study was conducted to determine the effect of climbing to high altitudes on a climber’s memory.
Independent Variable: _________________________________________________________________
Dependent Variable: __________________________________________________________________
Constants: ___________________________________________________________________________
4. Students of different ages were given the same math test. Researchers looked at the number of correct
answers on the test.
Independent Variable: _________________________________________________________________
Dependent Variable: __________________________________________________________________
Constants: ___________________________________________________________________________
5. A study was done to see the effect of different cancer drugs on tumor size in male patients.
Independent Variable: _________________________________________________________________
Dependent Variable: __________________________________________________________________
Constants: ___________________________________________________________________________
6. Mad scientists looked at the growth of claw size in mutant lobsters due to drinking different amounts of sea
water contaminated with Pepsi.
Independent Variable: _________________________________________________________________
Dependent Variable: __________________________________________________________________
Constants: ___________________________________________________________________________
7. Global researchers monitored the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere each month of the year.
Independent Variable: _________________________________________________________________
Dependent Variable: __________________________________________________________________
Constants: ___________________________________________________________________________
8. Mr. Spock examined the changes in intelligence due to performing different numbers of mind melds on the
people in the crew of the Enterprise.
Independent Variable: _________________________________________________________________
Dependent Variable: __________________________________________________________________
Constants: ___________________________________________________________________________
9. NASA astronauts collected data on the effect of weightlessness on the growth rate of tomato plants
compared to tomato plants growing on Earth (no weightlessness).
Independent Variable: _________________________________________________________________
Dependent Variable: __________________________________________________________________
Constants: ___________________________________________________________________________
10. A study was done to determine the effect of eating different amounts of twinkies on energy levels in 7th
grade students.
Independent Variable: _________________________________________________________________
Dependent Variable: __________________________________________________________________
Constants: ___________________________________________________________________________
11. Scientists monitored the rainfall levels at a research station in Washington every day in the month of April.
Independent Variable:__________________________________________________________________
Dependent Variable:___________________________________________________________________
Constants:___________________________________________________________________________
12. Teachers researched how playing different types of music impacted how accurate 8th grade student answers
were on a math assignment.
Independent Variable:__________________________________________________________________
Dependent Variable:___________________________________________________________________
Constants:___________________________________________________________________________
13. Now make up your own statement and identify each part! ________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Variable: _________________________________________________________________
Dependent Variable: __________________________________________________________________
Constants: ___________________________________________________________________________