We develop an experiment in which we measure how quickly a pot of water boils based on the heat setting on the stove and the amount of salt we add to the pot. In this experiment:

In this experiment, time to boil is considered a dependent variable because it is the outcome that we are measuring based on other factors manipulated in the experiment, specifically the heat setting and the amount of salt. The independent variables are those that we can control or change—in this case, the heat setting of the stove and the amount of salt we choose to add to the water. By altering these independent variables, we can observe how they impact the time it takes for the water to reach its boiling point.

This relationship is fundamental in experimental design, as the dependent variable reflects the effect of changes in the independent variables. Therefore, the correct identification of time to boil as the dependent variable and the amount of salt as an independent variable effectively illustrates how we are investigating the relationship between these variables in a systematic way.