Definition:Dependent Variable

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Definition

Real Function

Let $f: \R \to \R$ be a real function.

Let $\map f x = y$.

Then $y$ is referred to as a dependent variable.


Complex Function

Let $f: \C \to \C$ be a complex function.

Let $\map f z = w$.


Then $w$ is referred to as the dependent variable (of $f$).


Also known as

A dependent variable can also be referred to as a response variable.

The particular value taken by the dependent variable for a specific value of the independent variable is called the image.


Also see

  • Results about dependent variables can be found here.


Linguistic Note

The terms independent variable and dependent variable arise from the idea that it is usual to consider that $x$ can be chosen independently of $y$, but having chosen $x$, the value of $y$ then depends on the value of $x$.


Sources

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