Question

question 16 (4 points)
(01.07 mc)
if a student is attempting to determine which brand of pen lasts the longest, what is a controlled variable that would be used in the experiment?

a the type of paper being written on

b the type of pen being used

c the amount of writing produced

d the color of the pen

Explanation:

A controlled variable is a factor kept constant in an experiment to ensure a fair test. In this experiment, the independent variable is the pen brand (we're testing which brand lasts longest), and the dependent variable is how long the pen lasts. To isolate the effect of the pen brand, other factors that could affect pen longevity must be controlled.

• Option a: The type of paper can affect how much ink a pen uses (e.g., rough paper might make a pen run out faster), so keeping the paper type constant is a controlled variable.
• Option b: The type of pen is the independent variable (we're testing different brands/types), so it's not controlled.
• Option c: The amount of writing produced is related to the dependent variable (how long the pen lasts) and would be part of measuring the dependent variable, not a controlled variable.
• Option d: The color of the pen doesn't affect how long the pen lasts, so it's not a relevant controlled variable.

Answer:

a. The type of paper being written on