Direct Variation

What is it and how do I know when I see it?

Direct
Variation
When we talk about a direct

variation, we are talking about

a relationship where as
x increases, y increases
or x decreases, y decreases at
a CONSTANT RATE.

Definition:
A direct variation involving x and y is a
function in which the ratio y is a nonzero
x
constant.
y
Another way of writing this is k = x
k is the constant of variation
also known as the slope of the
function.

Definition:
y varies directly as x means that
y = kx
where k is the constant of variation.
(see any similarities to y = mx + b?)
Inotherwords:
*theconstantofvariation(k)inadirect
variationistheconstant(unchanged)ratiooftwo
variablequantities.

ExamplesofDirectVariation:
Note:Xincreases,
6,7,8
AndYincreases.

12,14,16

Whatistheconstantofvariationofthetableabove?
y
Sincey=kxwecansayTherefore:
k
x
12/6=kork=2
14/7=kork=2
16/8=kork=2

Notekstaysconstant.

y=kx
y=2xisthe
equation!

ExamplesofDirectVariation:
Note:Xdecreases,
10,5,3
AndYdecreases.

30,15,9

Whatistheconstantofvariationofthetableabove?

y
k
Sincey=kxwecansayTherefore:
x
30/10=kork=3
15/5=kork=3
9/3=kork=3

Notekstaysconstant.

y=3xisthe
equation!

ExamplesofDirectVariation:
Note:Xdecreases,
4,16,40
AndYdecreases.

1,4,10

Whatistheconstantofvariationofthetableabove?
y
k
Sincey=kxwecansayTherefore:
x
y=xisthe
1/4=kork=
4/16=kork=
equation!
10/40=kork= Notekstaysconstant.

What is the constant of

variation for the following
direct
variation?
1. 2
2.
3.
4.

-2
-

Answer
Now

Isthisadirectvariation?Ifyes,givethe
constantofvariation(k)andtheequation.
Yes!
k=6/4or3/2
k=12/8or3/2
k=18/12or3/2
k=27/18or3/2

Equation?
y=3/2x

Isthisadirectvariation?Ifyes,givethe
constantofvariation(k)andtheequation.
Yes!
k=25/10or5/2
K=15/6or5/2
k=10/4or5/2
k=5/2
Equation?
y=5/2x

Isthisadirectvariation?Ifyes,givethe
constantofvariation(k)andtheequation.
No!
k=5/15or1/3
k=75/1or75
Thekvaluesare
different!

Which of the following is a direct

variation?

1.
2.
3.
4.

A
B
C
D

Answer
Now

Which is the equation that

describes the following table
1.
= -2x
of yvalues?
2.
3.
4.

y = 2x
y= x
xy = 200

Answer
Now

UsingDirectVariation
Whenxis2andyis4,findanequationthat
showsxandyvarydirectly.
2 Step Process
1stFindtheconstantvariation

y
k=ork=4/2=2
x
k=2

2ndUsey=kx.
y=2x

UsingDirectVariation
Whenxis3andyis12,findanequationthat
showsxandyvarydirectly.
2 Step Process

1stFindtheconstant
variation
k=y/xork=12/3=4
k=4

2ndUsey=kx.
y=4x

UsingDirectVariationtofindunknowns(y=kx)
Giventhatyvariesdirectlywithx,andy=30whenx=
3,Findywhenx=8.HOW???
2stepprocess
1.Findtheconstantvariation
k=y/xork=30/3=10
k=10
2.Usey=kx.Findtheunknown(x).
y=10xsoy=10(8)
y=80

Therefore:
x=8wheny=80

UsingDirectVariationtofindunknowns(y=kx)
Giventhatyvariesdirectlywithx,andy=20when
x=4,Findywhenx=10.HOW???
2stepprocess
1.Findtheconstantvariation
k=y/xork=20/4=5
k=5
2.Usey=kx.Findtheunknown(x).
y=5xsoy=5(10)
y=50

Therefore:
x=10wheny=50

Using Direct Variation to solve word problems

Problem:
Tomakemangosalsa,youneed3
mangoesfor2recipes(2recipes=8
serving).Writeanequationrelating
thenumberofservingsytothe
numberofmangoesxgivensothaty
variesdirectlywithx.Howmany
servingsofsalsacanyoumakeif
youhave5mangoes?

StepTwo:Findtheconstant
variationandequation:
k=y/xork=8/3
y=8/3x

StepOne:Findpointsintable

StepThree:Usetheequation
tofindtheunknown.
y=8/3x
y=8/3(5)
y=40/3
y=13.3

Using Direct Variation to solve word problems

Problem:
Tomakemangosalsa,youneed3
mangoesfor2recipes(2recipes=8
serving).Writeanequationrelating
thenumberofservingsytothe
numberofmangoesxgivensothaty
variesdirectlywithx.Howmany
servingsofsalsacanyoumakeif
youhave5mangoes?

StepOne:Findpointsintable

8(5) = 3y
40 = 3y
Y = 13.3
40=3y
Y = 13.3 servings

Use a proportion to solve.

x1 x 2

y1 y 2

3 5

8 y

Using Direct Variation to solve word problems

Problem:
Thelengththataspringwill
stretchSvariesdirectlywiththe
weightwattachedtothespring.
Ifaspringstretches1.4inches
whena20poundweightis
attached,howfarwillitstretch
whena10poundweightis
attached?

StepTwo:Findtheconstant
variationandequation:
k=y/xork=1.4/20
y=0.07x

StepOne:Findpointsintable

StepThree:Usetheequation
tofindtheunknown.
y=0.07x
y=0.07(10)
y=0.7
y=0.7inches

Using Direct Variation to solve word problems

Problem:
Thelengththataspringwillstretch
Svariesdirectlywiththeweightw
attachedtothespring.Ifaspring
stretches1.4incheswhena20
poundweightisattached,howfar
willitstretchwhena10pound
weightisattached?

StepOne:Findpointsintable

Use a proportion to solve.

x x 20 10

y y 1.4 y

1.4(10) = 20y
14 = 20y
y = 0.7
y = 0.7 inches

DirectVariationanditsgraph
y=mx+b,
m=slopeandb=yintercept
Withdirectionvariationtheequation
isy=kx
Note:m=kortheconstantandb=0thereforethegraphwill
alwaysgothrough

theORIGIN!!!!!

TellifthefollowinggraphisaDirectVariationornot.

No

No

Yestheline
passes
throughthe
origin.

No

TellifthefollowinggraphisaDirectVariationornot.

No

Yestheline
passes
throughthe
origin

Yestheline
passes
throughthe
origin

No

Summary
An equation is a direct variation if:
Its graph is a line that passes
through zero
OR
The equation can be written in the
form y = kx