It can be tough to distinguish between the dependent and independent variables. One acronym that I like to use that helps me is DRY MIX. D- dependent, R- responding/response variable, Y- Y axis, and M- manipulated, I- independent, X- X axis. The dependent variable is the variable that's being tested. The dependent variable depends on the independent variable. You could also interpret the X in DRY MIX to be related to explanatory, meaning the explanatory variable. The independent variable, hence the M in DRY MIX, is what you manipulate, change, and control in an experiment. X is the explanatory/predictor/independent variable. Y is the response/dependent variable