Which variable goes on the x axis

Any property of either variable can be tracked and plotted against each other, even if they are different from each other. Once a graph is constructed, it will be clear how much, and if, the independent variable influences the other. Not all equations and graphs are two-dimensional. In an experiment with two independent variables, which are usually designated as x and y, the dependent variable is usually z.

The vertical axis is called the y-axis. The point where the x-axis and y-axis intersect is called the origin. Is the independent variable the one that changes? The things that are changing in an experiment are called variables. A variable is any factor, trait, or condition that can exist in differing amounts or types. The independent variable is the one that is changed by the scientist. Which is dependent variable? A dependent variable is what you measure in the experiment and what is affected during the experiment.

It is called dependent because it "depends" on the independent variable. In a scientific experiment, you cannot have a dependent variable without an independent variable. Does the dependent variable change? The dependent variable is the variable that changes in response to the independent variable. The two variables may be related by cause and effect. If the independent variable changes, then the dependent variable is affected. How do you make an independent and dependent variable in a bar graph?

Creating a bar graph with one independent variable Note that the independent variable X-axis is placed in the first column while the dependent variable Y-axis is placed in the second column. But, that is simply a convention. It could be put on any axis and be equally valid, as long as the mathematics represent the axes used. So, while the previous detailed answer gave some excellent examples, the real REASON we plot the independent variable on the x-axis is just to follow the convention in order to make our results or observations more readily understood by others.

Corollary: If I simply started using base-8 numbers for an equation without explanation, my results might still be valid, but anyone expecting the normal convention of base numbers would be confused. So, we use base for all of our calculations unless the change is specifically noted for particular reasons. Why does the independent variable go on the x axis? Chemistry Measurement Graphing: independent and dependent variables.

Search for:. X-Axis vs. Y-Axis Information For any data set you are going to graph, you have to decide which of the two variables you are going to put on the x-axis and which one you are going to put on the y-axis. Lab 2 Exercises 2. You are testing the toxicity of a new drug. You administer different doses to groups of mice and determine the percentage of the group that died as a result.