In an experiment, the dependent variable is defined as

• A. The factor that is measured to assess the effect of the independent variable.
• B. The factor that is intentionally changed.
• C. The baseline measurement.
• D. The factor that provides the control.

Answer: (A)

The dependent variable is the measured outcome that shows how the system responds to the change you make in the experiment. It depends on the independent variable, which is the factor you deliberately alter. For example, if you change how much fertilizer a plant gets (the independent variable) and then measure the plant’s height after a period, plant height is the dependent variable because you’re observing how it changes in response to the fertilizer levels. The baseline measurement isn’t the variable of interest itself—it's just a starting point—while the control is what you keep constant to avoid other factors influencing the result. So the correct description is the factor you measure to assess the effect of the independent variable.