RATE PROBLEMS

(Ratios, Proportions and Direct and Inverse Variation)

Introduction
A rate is a mathematical way of relating two quantities, which are usually measured in different units. A favorite type of a rate problem in algebra courses sends two hypothetical trains rushing towards each other at different speeds, and asks you to determine when they will meet. Less exciting, but also common, rate situations involve calculating wages or determining the time it takes for a container to fill or empty. The secret to solving all rate problems is creating a system of equations to represent the situation.

RATE PROBLEMS
!! Ratios !! Proportions !! Direct and Inverse Variation!

Ratios!
Is a relationship between two numbers of the same kind (e.G., Objects, persons, students, spoonfuls, units of whatever identical dimension), usually expressed as "a to b" or a:b, sometimes expressed arithmetically as a dimensionless quotient of the two that explicitly indicates how many times the first number contains the second (not necessarily an integer).

Proportions !
In mathematics, two variables are proportional if a change in one is always accompanied by a change in the other, and if the changes are always related by use of a constant. The constant is called the coefficient of proportionality or proportionality constant. When the constant is negative, the variables are described as negatively proportional.

Direct and Inverse Variation!

! When two variables are related in such a way that the ratio of their values always remains the same, the two variables are said to be in direct variation. ! In an inverse variation, the values of the two variables change in an opposite manner - as one value increases, the other decreases.

Question 1
Phillip can paint!y square feet of wall per minute. How much wall can he paint in twoand-a-half hours?

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Every minute Phillip completes another!y square feet of painting. Since there are 60(2.5) = 150 minutes in 2 and a half hours, he can complete a total of 150y square feet of painting.

The answer is (B)

Question 2
The value of y varies directly with the square of x and the cube of z. If y = 24 when x = 1 and z = 2, then what is the value of y when x = 3 and z = 1?

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Let's consider the general case when y varies directly with x. If y varies directly with x, then we can express their relationship to one another using the following formula: y = kx, where k is a constant. Therefore, if y varies directly as the square of x and the cube of z, we can write the following analagous equation: y = kx2z3, where k is a constant. The problem states that!y = 24 when x = 1 and z = 2. We can use this information to solve for k by substituting the known values for y, x, and z. ! 24 = k(1)2(2)3 = k(1)(8) = 8k 24 = 8k Divide both sides by 8. 3 = k " k = 3 Now that we have k, we can find y if we know x and z. The problem asks us to find y when x = 3 and z = 1. We will use our formula for direct variation again, this time substitute values for k, x, and z. y = kx2z3 y = 3(3)2(1)3 = 3(9)(1) = 27 y = 27

The answer is (D)

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