What does 'independent variable' mean on a graph?

An independent variable on a graph is the variable that is manipulated or changed by the experimenter to observe its effect on another variable. It is typically plotted on the x-axis. For example, in a study examining the impact of temperature on plant growth, temperature would be the independent variable. The changes in the independent variable help to identify potential relationships with the dependent variable, which is plotted on the y-axis.