Word Origin and History for attenuate Expand v. to make thin, to make less, 1520s, from Latin attenuatus enfeebled, weak, past participle of attenuare to make thin, lessen, diminish, from ad-to (see ad-) + tenuare make thin, from tenuis thin (see tenet).
Dependent Variable Definition: A dependent variable is the variable being tested in a scientific experiment. The dependent variable is 'dependent' on the independent variable. As the experimenter changes the independent variable, the change in the dependent variable is observed and recorded.
Variables: Independent, Dependent, Controlled. Types of Variables in A Science Fair Project. A variable is part of an experiment that can change, such as amount of light, temperature, humidity, time changes, or plant growth. In an experiment, an independent variable is a variable that either changes on its own, or you purposely change it. The goal of an experimental investigation is to determine how changes in an independent variable affects another variable, which is called the dependent variable.