determinant

"In college admissions, your GPA is a significant determinant of whether you'll be accepted. "

"The determinant of the matrix representing the scaling of an image tells us whether the image will be stretched, shrunk, or flipped. "

"The growth factor acted as a determinant, signaling the stem cell to become a specialized muscle cell. "

"The amount of sunlight a plant receives is a determinant factor in its growth; without enough light, it will not thrive. "