DIRECT VARIATION

Direct variation- a situation produces pairs of numbers in which their ratio is constant.
The statements: y varies directly as x
y is directly proportional to x and
y is proportional to x
Translated mathematically as y= k x, where k is the constant of variation.
The graph below describe a direct variation in the form of y= k x.

TIME (t)
1

0
10

20

30

40

50

DISTANCE (d)

Example:
If y varies directly as x and y= 16 when x= 4, find the variation constant and the
equation of variation.
Solution:
y varies directly as x as y= k x
y= k x
16= 4k
k=

16
4

k=4
The constant of variation is 4. Form the variation of the equation in the statement y= k x
as y= 4 x.

2. If d varies directly as t and d= 10 when t= 5, find the variation constant and the
equation of variation.
Solution:
d varies directly as t as d= k t
d= k t
10= k 5
k=

10
5

k=2
The constant variation is 2
d= 2 t
EXAMPLE OF DIRECT VARIATION
A four- cylinder car engine has a lower gas consumption than a six-cylinder engine; and
a six-cylinder engine consumes less gas than an eight-cylinder engine.
Based on this, we can say that the smaller the number of cylinders in a car engine, the
lower the gas consumption. Also the bigger the number of cylinders in a car engine, the
higher the gas consumption. So, we say that the number of cylinders in a car engine is
directly related to the amount of the gas consumption.

INVERSE VARIATION
Inverse Variation- a situation produces pairs of numbers, whose product is constant.
k
The statement y varies inversely to x translate to y= y , where k is the
constant of
40
35
30
25

SPEED(s)

20
15
10
5
0

Series 3

Solving Inverse Variation Problems

1. The intensity of light produced by a light source varies inversely as the square of the
distance from the source. If the intensity of light produced 3 feet from a light source is
750 foot-candles, find the intensity of light produced 5 feet from the same source.
Answer:

The intensity of light produced by a light source varies inversely

as the square of the distance from the source. If the intensity of
light produced 3 feet from a light source is 750 foot-candles,
find the intensity of light produced 5 feet from the same source.

2. 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 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.

EXAMPLE OF INVERSE VARIATION

A caterer who takes a watermelon to a picnic knows that each person will receive more
watermelon if there are fewer attendees, but each person will receive less watermelon if
there are more attendees. That's because the amount of watermelon for each person
varies inversely as the number of attendees. The more people, the less each person
gets.

JOINT VARIATION

a
Joint Variation- a statement a varies jointly as b and c means a= kbc, or k= bc
where k is the constant of variation.
Example:
1. Find the equation of variation where x varies jointly as y and z and x= 56,
When y= 2 and z= 4.
Solution:
x= k y z
56= k (2) (4)
56
k= 8
k= 7
2. If y varies jointly as x and z, where y= 5 when x= 10 and z= 2
y= k y z
5= k (10) (2)
5= k 20
20
5= k 5
k= 4

COMBINED VARIATION
Combined Variation involves both direct and inverse variations. The statement m
kc
mj
varies directly as c and inversely as j means m=
,
or
k=
, where k is the
j
c
constant of variation.
Example:
1. If d varies directly as e and inversely as f, and d= 12 when c= 6 and f= 2, find d
when e= 4 and f=8.
Solution:
d=

12=

k=

ke
f
k6
2
12
3

k= 4
Using the equation d=

4e
f

, solve for d when e= 4 and f= 8.

d=

4e
f

d=

( 4 )(4)
8

d= 2
2. If I varies directly as h and inversely as l, and i= 6 when h= 12 and l= 3, find I when
h= 9 and l= 15.
Solution:
d=

kh
l

6=

k 12
3

k=

6
4

k=

3
2

Now, solve for i when h= 9 and l= 15. Using the equation i=

3
2

h .
l

i= (

3
2 ) (9)
15

i=