independent variable

noun

: a mathematical variable that is independent of the other variables in an expression or function and whose value determines one or more of the values of the other variables

Examples of independent variable in a Sentence

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For those interested in statistics, the researchers used beta coefficients, which, in regression analysis, are numbers that represent the strength and direction of the relationship between a predictor (independent variable) and an outcome (dependent variable). New Atlas, 15 Dec. 2024 Indeed, the degrees of freedom, or independent variables, that capture the behavior of these systems at microscopic and macroscopic scales have precisely the relationship that the theory predicts. Philip Ball, WIRED, 21 July 2024 The idea that multiple independent variables can influence a dependent variable like income is not exactly a new one. Wilfred Reilly, National Review, 30 Jan. 2024 This computer could solve complex differential equations of one independent variable with an accuracy that was within a few percent of the correct solution. IEEE Spectrum, 1 Dec. 2017 There is no single, controllable, independent variable. Dan Musgrave, Longreads, 9 May 2023 The predictive power of the model rose to 56-62% when past behavior was included as a third independent variable. Ncbi Rofl, Discover Magazine, 17 Nov. 2010 The only independent variable would be a 45-minute dose of bright morning light. Kate Greene, Discover Magazine, 5 Aug. 2013 If on the other hand there are many alleles of small effect distributed throughout the genome correlated with geographic ancestry which affect the final phenotype then adding ancestry as an independent variable into the model should be informative. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 28 May 2013

Word History

First Known Use

1816, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of independent variable was in 1816

Dictionary Entries Near independent variable

Cite this Entry

“Independent variable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/independent%20variable. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

independent variable

noun
: a variable whose values are specified first or before an experiment is performed and are used to find values of an expression, another variable, or a function that depends on the first variable compare dependent variable

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