What is "dependent variable"

Dependent \De*pend"ent\, a. [L. dependens, -entis, p. pr. dependere. See Depend, and cf. Dependant.]

1. Hanging down; as, a dependent bough or leaf.

2. Relying on, or subject to, something else for support; not able to exist, or sustain itself, or to perform anything, without the will, power, or aid of something else; not self-sustaining; subordinate; -- often with on or upon; as, dependent on God; dependent upon friends. Opposite of independent. [Narrower terms: interdependent, mutualist, mutually beneficial; parasitic, parasitical, leechlike, bloodsucking; subordinate; underage; myrmecophilous; symbiotic] Also See: unfree.

   England, long dependent and degraded, was again a power of the first rank.
   --Macaulay.

3. conditional; contingent or conditioned. Opposite of unconditional.

   Syn: qualified.

4. addicted to drugs.

   Syn: addicted, dependent, drug-addicted, hooked, strung-out.

   Dependent covenant or Dependent contract (Law), one not binding until some connecting stipulation is performed.

   Dependent variable (Math.), a varying quantity whose changes are arbitrary, but are regarded as produced by changes in another variable, which is called the independent variable.

n. 1 (context algebra English) In an equation, the variable whose value depends on one or more variables in the equation. 2 (context science English) an outcome measured to see the effectiveness of the treatment.

n. (statistics) a variable in a logical or mathematical expression whose value depends in the independent variable; if f(x)=y, y is the dependent variable