Jewels has $6.75 to ride the ferry around Connecticut. It will cost her $0.45 every time she rides. Identify the dependent variable and the independent variable in this scenario. The number of rides is the independent variable, and the total cost is the dependent variable. The total cost is the independent variable, and the number of rides is the dependent variable. The number of rides and the total cost are both independent variables. The number of rides and the total cost are both dependent variables