Answer:
x is the independent variable.
y is the dependent variable.
-3 is the rate of change (slope)
-7 is the initial value
Step-by-step explanation:
The given equation is

This function is of the form:

where m=-3 is the slope and b is the y-intercept. The y-intercept is the initial value.
Therefore the initial value is -7.
This function is actually of the form:

Therefore the independent variable is x and dependent variable is y.