Variable
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Related to Extraneous variable: Intervening variable, Moderator variable, research hypothesis, Research design
Variable
An element in a model. For example, in the model RS&Pt+1 = a + b Tbill t + et, where RS&Pt+1 is the return on the S&P in month t+1 and Tbill is the Tbill return at month t, both RS&P and Tbill are "variables" because they change through time; i.e., they are not constant.
Variable
Anything that does not have a set value. In basic algebra, a variable is often expressed as "x." Variables in economics and finance may be measures such as GDP, prices, or interest rates. Analysts use complicated equations to determine the value of some variables at the present time and even more complicated equations to predict their possible future values. See also: Regression.
variable
Something, such as stock prices, earnings, dividend payments, interest rates, and gross domestic product, that has no fixed quantitative value. See also dependent variable, independent variable.