Question

Susan observed that different kinds and amounts of fossils were present in a cliff behind her house. She wondered if changes in fossil content occurred from the top to the bottom of the bank. She marked the bank at five positions: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 m from the surface. She removed 1 bucket of soil from each of the positions and determined the kind and number of fossils in each sample.

3. What is the independent variable?
4. What is the dependent variable?

Answer 1

3. The independent variable is the position of the soil sample on the bank (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 m from the surface).

4. The dependent variable is the kind and number of fossils in each soil sample.