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Greg buys a new car. He wants to know if changing the type of gas and type of oi

ID: 3098607 • Letter: G

Question

Greg buys a new car. He wants to know if changing the type of gas and type of oil that he puts in the car will affect the gas mileage of the car. While assessing the affects of type of gas and type of oil on gas mileage, he realizes that everyday traffic conditions are different and that this too affects gas mileage. What is/are the independent variable(s) in this experimental study? What is/are the confounding variable(s)?
Choices=
Type of gas used.
Gas mileage.
Traffic conditions.
Type of oil used.
None of these.

Explanation / Answer

Independent Variables (sometimes called Predictor or Explanatory Variables) are the variables being manipulated by the researcher. Type of gas used and type of oil used are the independent variables. Confounding Variables are variables that influence the dependent variable, but cannot be separated from the independent variable. Traffic conditions is the confounding variable. Gas mileage would be a dependent variable.