A scientist is studying the effect of temperature on the ability of a plant to grow. She places four plants in environments of four different temperatures. All plants are given the same amount of water and light each day. She measures the height of each plant at the end of a month. Which of the following describes the dependent and independent variables?a. The dependent variable is the room temperature; the independent variable is the plant heights. b. The dependent variable is the room temperature; the independent variable is the amount of water. c. The dependent variable is the plant heights; the independent variable is the room temperature. d. The dependent variable is the amount of light; the independent variable is the plant heights.

Here, the effect of room temperature on the height of plants is being studied. The amount of light the plants get is equal the only differentiating factor is the room temperature.

In an experiment to determine the inter relationship between two variables on variable is changed and the variable which changes with respect to the first variable is studied.

The variable which is changed inpendently i.e., it does not change with respect to another variable is called the independent variable.

The variable which changes with respect to the independent variable is called the dependent variable.

Hence, the plant height is the dependent variable and the room temperature is the independent variable.