Question

Which values represent the independent variable? (–2, 4), (3, –2), (1, 0), (5, 5) A. {–2, 3, 1, 5} B. {4, –2, 0, 5} C. {–2, 4, 3, –2} D. {–2, –1, 0, 5}

Answer 1

Option A: {-2, 3, 1, 5}

Explanation:

A function is a relationship that maps elements from one set (the domain, set of the inputs, the independent variables) into elements from another set (the range, set of the outputs, the dependent variables ).

Such that the standard notation is (x, y)

This says that the function/relation maps the element x into the element y.

So here the independent variable is x.

Now, in a relation:

{ (x₁, y₁), (x₂, y₂), ..., (xₙ, yₙ)}

The independent variable is represented with the set:

{x₁, x₂, ..., xₙ}

then, in the relation:

(–2, 4), (3, –2), (1, 0), (5, 5)

The set that represents the independent variable is a set with the first elements from each one of these four points:

{-2, 3, 1, 5}

The correct option is A.