The equation that describes how the dependent variable (y) is related to the independent variable (x) is called

The equation that describes how the dependent variable (y) is related to the independent variable (x) is called a "function" or more specifically, it can be referred to as a "mathematical function".

Here's a step-by-step explanation:

1. In mathematics, variables are symbols that can represent different values.

2. The "independent variable" is the variable that stands alone and isn't changed by the other variables you are trying to measure. For example, time is a common independent variable.

3. The "dependent variable" is what you measure in the experiment and what is affected during the experiment. The dependent variable responds to the independent variable. It is called dependent because it "depends" on the independent variable.

4. A "function" is a relation between a set of inputs (in this case, the independent variable x) and a set of permissible outputs (the dependent variable y), with the property that each input is related to exactly one output.

5. So, the equation that describes how y (the dependent variable) is related to x (the independent variable) is called a function. For example, in the function y = 2x, y is dependent on the value of x. If x is 3, then y is 6. If x is 5, then y is 10, and so on.