The Putnam Coffee House brews fresh-roasted coffee beans to serve to their patrons. The amount of coffee they will need to brew in a day depends on the number of patrons they have. \( c= \) the amount of coffee they will need to brew \( p= \) the number of patrons Which of the variables is independent and which is dependent? \( \begin{array}{l}p \text { is the independent variable and } c \text { is the dependent } \\ \text { variable } \\ \epsilon \text { is the independent variable and } p \text { is the dependent } \\ \text { variable }\end{array} \)

In this scenario, the number of patrons, \( p \), is the independent variable because it is the factor that can be manipulated or changed. The amount of coffee needed to brew, \( c \), is the dependent variable because it depends on the number of patrons; more patrons typically require more coffee! When running a coffee shop, understanding the relationship between patrons and coffee consumption is key. If you know your average number of patrons on a busy Saturday compared to a slow Tuesday, you can better adjust your coffee brewing schedule. This understanding helps maintain the right amount of freshly brewed coffee to keep your customers happy without wasting resources!