Humber Admissions Practice Test

Which type of relationship is defined by one variable increasing as another also increases?

1. Inverse relationship

2. Direct relationship

3. Proportional relationship

4. Dependent relationship

The correct answer is: Direct relationship

A direct relationship is characterized by a situation where two variables move in the same direction; as one variable increases, the other variable also increases. This concept can be visualized using a graph where the points generally trend upwards, indicating that higher values in one variable correspond to higher values in the other. In a direct relationship, the variables are positively correlated, which means that the increase in one variable results in a predictable increase in the other. This consistency allows for easier predictions and understanding of how changes affect the overall relationship between the two variables. In contrast, an inverse relationship would describe a situation where one variable increases while the other decreases, and a proportional relationship implies a constant ratio between the two variables rather than just a simple direction of change. A dependent relationship indicates that one variable depends on another, but it does not specifically address the direction of the change. Thus, the definition of a direct relationship effectively captures the essence of the scenario presented in the question, making it the correct choice.