Variation

Physics 201 Laboratory

Experiment 0

Variation
O The study of behavior of a dependent

variable when an independent

variable varies or change
O 4 types to be discussed in this lecture
O Direct Variation
O Direct Square Variation
O Direct Square Root Variation
O Inverse Variation

Direct Variation
O A dependent variable (y) varies

directly to an independent variable (x)

if the graph of [ y vs x ] is a line
O If the two variables are a direct
variation, then we can say that they
are directly proportional
O and they follow the equation

X
(s)
15
20
25
30
35
40
45

O The graph is a

y
(m
)

line therefore
the variables
have a direct
variation

9
12
15
18

O To get the slope of the line (m).

21

24
27

Example
O Y varies directly with X.
O Y = 100 when x =5.
O Find k. Then find x when y = 150

1. Given that y varies directly with

x, and y = 28 when x=7, Find x
when y = 52.
2. Given that y varies directly with
x, and
y = 3 when x=9, Find y when x =
27

Direct Square Variation

O If (y) varies directly to the square of an

independent variable (x), then they

have a direct square variation
O the graph of [ y vs x ] is a parabola that
opens upward
O If the two variables are a direct square
variation, then we can say that they
are direct square proportional
O and they follow the equation

0.1

0.4

0.9

1.6

2.5

3.6

4.9

O The graph is a

parabola facing
upwards therefore
the variables have a
direct square
variation

O To get the constant k

Examples
O If p varies directly as the square of q, and

p = 20 when q = 5, find p when q = 8.

Direct Square Root Variation

O If (y) varies directly to the square root

of an independent variable (x), then

they have a direct square root variation
O the graph of [ y vs x ] is a parabola that
opens to the right
O If the two variables are a direct square
root variation, then we can say that
they are direct square root proportional
O and they follow the equation

O The graph is a

0.2

0.447
214

0.4

0.632
456

1.414
214

1.732
051

parabola facing to
the right therefore
the variables have a
direct square root
variation

O To get the constant k

4

2.449
49

Examples
O If c varies directly as the square root of d, and c = 6

when d = 256, find c when d = 625.

O If c varies directly as the square root of d, and c =

14 when d = 64, find c when d = 324.

Inverse Variation
O If (y) varies inversely to an

independent variable (x),

O Where one variable goes up, while the
other goes down
O then they have an inverse variation
O the graph of [ y vs x ] is a hyperbola
O and they follow the equation

PV

V
50

50

1.5 33.33

50

25

50

2.5

20

50

14.28
3.5
5

50

4.5 11.11

50

10

50

O To get the constant k

O The graph is a

hyperbola therefore
the variables have
an inverse variation

Example
Y varies inversely with X.
Y = 30 when x =4.
Find k. Then find x when y = 150

Examples
O If x varies inverse as y, and x = 7 when y = 3, find

y when x = 9.

O If y varies inversely as x, and y = 32 when x = 3,

find x when y = 15.

O The current in a simple electrical circuit is

inversely proportional to the resistance. If the

current is 80 amps when the resistance is 50
ohms, find the current when the resistance is 22
ohms.

 The volume,V, of a gas varies

inversely as the pressure,p, in
a container. If the volume of a
gas is 200cc when the pressure
is
1.6
liters
per
square
centimeter, find the volume (to
the nearest tenth) when the
pressure is 2.8 liters per sq
centimeter..

Formula:

k
p

 In science, one theory of life

expectancy states that the lifespan of
mammals varies inversely to the
number of heartbeats per minute of
the animal. If a gerbil's heart beats
360 times per minute and lives an
average of 3.5 years, what would be
the life expectancy of a human with an
average of 72 beats per minute? Does
this theory appear to hold for humans?

Formula:

k
l
h