How do I decide which variables are dependent and
independent?
To determine dependent and independent variables and coefficients, consider
this equation:
y=f(x)=a+(b*x)+(c*x2).
y is the dependent variable.
x is the independent variable.
a, b, and c
are the coefficients.
The 'independent' variable is what you control. The
'dependent' variable is what you measure, i.e., it
depends on the independent variable. The 'coefficients' are
the parameters that the fitting algorithm estimates.
For example, if you have census data, then the year is the independent
variable because it does not depend on anything. Population is the dependent
variable, because its value depends on the year in which the census is taken. If
a parameter like growth rate is part of the model, so the fitting algorithm
estimates it, then the parameter is one of the
'coefficients'.
The fittype function determines input arguments by
searching the fit type expression input for variable names.
fittype assumes x is the independent
variable, y is the dependent variable, and all other
variables are coefficients of the model. x is used if no
variable exists.