A group of high school students are conducting a scientific investigation in their biology class to study the effect of different types of fertilizer on the growth of tomato plants. Which of the following statements about their investigation is correct?(1 point)%0D%0AResponses%0D%0A%0D%0AThe type of tomato plant is the dependent variable and the independent variable is the type of fertilizer%0D%0AThe type of tomato plant is the dependent variable and the independent variable is the type of fertilizer%0D%0A%0D%0AThe growth of the tomato plants is the dependent variable and the type of fertilizer is the independent variable.%0D%0AThe growth of the tomato plants is the dependent variable and the type of fertilizer is the independent variable.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe type of fertilizer is the dependent variable and the independent variable is the type of tomato plant.%0D%0AThe type of fertilizer is the dependent variable and the independent variable is the type of tomato plant.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe type of fertilizer is the dependent variable and the independent variable is the growth of the tomato plants.

Answer 1

In a scientific investigation, the dependent variable is what you measure or observe in the experiment, while the independent variable is what you change or manipulate.

In this case, the students are investigating the effect of different types of fertilizer on the growth of tomato plants. Therefore:

• The growth of the tomato plants is the dependent variable because it is what the students are measuring to see how it responds to the different fertilizers.
• The type of fertilizer is the independent variable because it is what the students are changing or manipulating to observe its effect on plant growth.

So, the correct statement about their investigation is:

"The growth of the tomato plants is the dependent variable and the type of fertilizer is the independent variable."