In a plant growth experiment, which is the dependent variable?

• A. The amount of sunlight
• B. The soil type
• C. The height of the plant
• D. The temperature

Answer: (C)

In this kind of growth study, the key idea is that the dependent variable is the outcome you measure to see how the plant responds. The height of the plant is what you record and analyze to determine how growth changes under different conditions. The conditions you alter or keep the same—like the amount of sunlight, soil type, and temperature—are the factors whose effects you’re testing; they’re the independent or controlled variables, not the measured outcome.