Variable

1. Income - expenditure - adjective.

Variable costs and income are amounts that can change within a forecasting or review period.

Contrasted with fixed costs and income.

The term "variable" is a relative one, because - when a long enough time frame is considered - most items become variable.

In general, something that is volatile is subject to constant and ongoing changes, often at frequencies greater than daily.

By contrast, variable refers to something that has the potential to change, possibly with advance warning.

2. Financial maths - noun.

In financial maths, a variable is a number that can take more than one value.

For example, a rate of inflation.

Contrasted with a constant, that - by definition - does not change.

3. Analysis - modelling - inputs - assumptions.

An relevant amount that - if it were to change - would be expected to change the results of analysis or modelling.

See also

• Argument
• Constant
• Continuous random variable
• Contribution
• Correlation
• Cost behaviour
• Dependent variable
• Direct costs
• Discrete random variable
• Expense
• Exponential constant
• Financial analysis
• Fixed cost
• Flexible budgeting
• Gearing
• Independent variable
• Indirect costs
• Input
• Management accounting
• Model
• Operational gearing
• Semi-fixed cost
• Semi-variable cost
• Volatile
• Volatility
• Variability
• Variable cost
• Variable currency
• Variable net asset value
• Variable rate