Question

Greg and Andrea are trying to find out how long it takes amylase, a digestive enzyme found in saliva, to break down a sample of starch. They put their sample in a beaker and covered it with their own saliva. After allowing it to sit on the lab table for 1 hour they measured the remaining surface area of the starch. What is the best way they could improve their experiment?

Answer 1

The answer is: the amount of the saliva samples must stay consistent while the amount of starch must vary.

The amount of the saliva samples must stay consistent because amylase, present in the saliva, is the independent variable which affects the dependent variable - the amount of starch. So, amylase will do its job while remaining surface area of the starch will depend on the starting amount of the starch.

Answer 2

The relationship between a dependent variable and independent variable in a scientific investigation is that the dependent variable depends on the independent variable. You can also put it this way: The results depend on the factor of the experiment that differs from the controlled group.

This is why the best way they could improve their experiment is by taking consistent amounts of their saliva samples with varying amounts of starch.

I hope it helps, Regards.