Lesson 23

Direct and Inverse

Variation
Direct Variation
• The relationship that exists between
two variables when a change in one
variable causes a proportional
change in the same direction in the
other variable.

• y = kx ( k is a constant)

• Simply said: Direct Variation – as x

gets bigger y gets bigger
Direct Variation
Direct Variation
• y = kx
• This is a linear function with the
graph passing through the origin.

• y = mx + b ; m is the slope
b is the y-intercept

y = kx ; k is the slope (which is a

constant) and the y- intercept is zero.
From the information in the example, we can pull out some
basic properties of direct variations:
1) y/x is always the same value
this value “k” is called the constant of variation
So, y/x = k
2) the general equation of a direct variation is
y = kx
3) this equation is linear--remember y=mx + b
If y = kx, then k is the slope and the y-intercept
is zero.
Hence, every direct variation is a graph of a line
through the origin (0,0)
From the table below, determine if y varies directly as x.
If so, write the variation algebraically.

X -2 -1 3 5
Y 6 3 -9 -15
A) not a direct variation
B) direct variation: y = -3x
C) direct variation: y =-4x
D) direct variation: y = 3x
To check to see if it is a direct variation, we will check to see
if y/x is a constant value--the same every time:
6/-2 = -3
3/-1 = -3
-9/3 = -3
-15/5 = -3
Since we got the same value for all data points, the variation
is direct. The constant of variation is -3. Thus the equation
of variation is y = -3x.
The best answer choice is B)
Try These: From the tables below, determine if y varies
directly as x. If so, write the equation of variation.

1) x 3 -2 5 6
y 12 -8 20 12

2) x -4 -6 12 -2
y 6 9 -18 3
Try This Solution:
1) Check to see if y/x is constant
12/3 = 4 No, this is not direct
-8/-2 = 4 because we did not
get the same value for
20/5 = 4 all y/x in the table.
12/6 = 2
2) 6/-4 = -1.5
This table is a direct
9/-6 = -1.5
variation. The
-18/12 = -1.5 equation of variation is
y= -1.5x.
3/-2 = -1.5
Y varies directly as x. Y is 24 when x is 3. Find y when x is 4.

Solution: Let us start by setting up a table:

x 24 4
y 3 ?
We must find y when x is 4: Since we are told that the relationship is a direct
variation we can find the constant of variation by y/x. \
24/3 = 8 So the variation equation is y=8x.
If we substitute 4 in for the x in our variation equation we get the answer:
y = 8x
y = 8(4)
y = 32
Real World Problem
• If it takes 6 hours to travel 300 miles,
how many hours will it take to travel
900 miles? Assume the speed
remains constant. Time is directly
proportional to distance traveled.
• T = kD ( time is directly proportional to distance traveled)
• First solve for k 6 = k300
k = .02
T = .02D
T = .02(900)
T = 18 hours
At a given time and place, the height of an
object varies directly as the length of its
shadow. If a flagpole 6m high casts a
shadow of 10m long, find the height of a
building that casts a shadow 45 m long.
Again, we will make a table to represent our data:
x: object ht. 6m ?
y: Shadow length 10m 45m
Find the constant of variation
y/x = k 10/6 = 1.6
Find the equation of variation
y = 1.6 x
Use the 45m to find the height of the building
y = 1.6x
45 = 1.6x divide both sides by 1.6
28.125 = x
Inverse Variation
Consider a situation in which you are making rectangles of
different sizes that have the same area which is 48.
If x represents the length of the rectangle and y represents
the width, you get a table of this type:
x y
1 48
2 24
3 16
4 12
6 8
We would say that the width of the rectangle is related
inversely to the length. As one increases, the other
decreases.
 Inverse Variation

If we take another look at the table we will x y

notice that every time we multiply the y-
1 48
value by its corresponding x-value, we get
the same number-- 48 2 24
(1)(48) = (2)(24) = (3)(16) = (4)(12)= 3 16
(6)(8)= 48 4 12
This value of 48 is called the “constant of 6 8
variation”. We could make an equation:
48 = xy or y= 48
x
From the information in the example, we can pull out some
basic properties of inverse variations:
1) xy is always the same value
this value “k” is called the constant of variation
So, xy - k
2) the general equation of a inverse variation is
y = k/x
From the table below, determine if y varies inversely as x.
If so, write the variation algebraically.

X 3 6 -12 -24
Y 8 4 -2 -1
To check to see if it is an inverse variation, we will check to
see if xy is a constant value--the same every time:

3(8) = 24
6(4) = 24
-12(-2) = 24
-24(-1) = 24
Since we got the same value for all data points, the variation
is inverse. The constant of variation is 24. Thus the
equation of variation is xy = 24 or y = 24/x
Check to see if this is an Inverse
Variation.

x 2 4 -10 -24
y 10 5 -2 -4

Check to see if xy is constant

2(10) = 20
4(5) = 20
-10(-2) = 20
-24(-4) = 96
 Solution

No, this is not inverse

because we did not get the
same value for all xy in
the table.
Y varies inversely as x. Y is 4 when x is 22. Find x when y is
-11

Solution: Let us start by setting up a table:

x 22 ?
y 4 -11
We must find x when y is -11: Since we are told that the relationship is an
inverse variation we can find the constant of variation by xy.
4(22) = 88 So the variation equation is xy=88.
If we substitute -11 in for the y in our variation equation we get the answer:
xy = 88 x = -8
x(-11) = 88
x(-11)/(-11)= 88/(-11)
Real World Problem
• The time is takes for a crew to
paint a room varies inversely
with people.
• If it takes 3 people 5 hours to
paint a room, how long will it
take 5 people?
Solution
• Time varies inversely with people.
• T = k/P
• First solve for k
• It took 3 people 5 hours to paint.
• 5 = k/3 k = 15
• T = 15/P
• How long will it take 5 men?
• T = 15/5 Time = 3 hours.

• It wi ll take 5 hours for 3 men and 3

hours for 5 men.
The volume of gas varies inversely as the
pressure. If the volume is 80m3 under 4 kg of
pressure, find the volume under 10kg of pressure
Solution:
Since we were told this is an inverse variation we can set up the table:

x pressure 4kg 10kg

y volume 80m3 ?

To find the constant of variation we multiply the y by the x: xy

(4)(80)
320
So the equation of the variation is: y = 320/x
Now we can use the equation to solve for our missing variable by
substituting the x-value of 7
y = 320 / x
y = 320/ 10
y = 32m3