Chapter Revision Variations

Types of variations
I. Direct variation
II. Inverse variation
III. Joint variation

I. Direct Variation
A. Determining whether a quantity varies directly as another quantity
i. If a quantity y varies directly as a quantity x,
y increases when x increases
y decreases when x decreases

ii. A quantity y varies directly as a quantity x if and only if = where k is
called the constant of variation.
iii. y varies directly as x is written as y x .
iv. When y x, the graph of y against x is a straight line passing through the
origin.

B. Expressing a direct variation in the form of an equation involving two variables

Example 1 Given that y varies directly as x and y = 20 when x = 36. Write the direct
variation in the form of equation.
yx
y = kx
20 = k(36)
4
k=
9
4
y = 9

C. Finding the value of a variable in a direct variation

i. When y varies directly as x and sufficient information is given, the value of y
or x can be determined by using:
= , or

1 = 2
1 2

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 Example 2 Given that y varies directly as x and y = 24 when x = 8, find
(a) The equation relating y to x
(b) The value of y when x = 6
(c) The value of x when y = 36

D. Solving problems involving direct variations

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i. If , where = , 2,3 then the equation is = , where k is a
2
constant.
ii. The graph of y against xn is a straight line passing through the origin.
iii. If and sufficient information is given, the values of variable x or
variable y can be determined.

Example 3 y varies directly to x3 and if y = 54 when x = 3, find

(a) The value of x when y = 16
(b) The value of y when x = 4

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Exercise
1. y varies directly to x3 and if y = 54 when x = 3, find
(a) The value of x when y = 16
(b) The value of y when x = 4

2. Given that p varies directly as square root of q and p = 12 when q = 36, find
(a) The value of p when q = 16
(b) The value of q when p = 18

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II. Inverse Variation
A. Determining whether a quantity varies inversely as another quantity
If a quantity y varies inversely as another quantity x, then
(a) y increases when x decreases,
(b) y decreases when x increases

B. Expressing an inverse variation in the form of an equation

An inverse variation can be written in the form of an equation, = where k is a
constant which can be determined.

Example 1 Given y varies inversely as x and y = 4 when x =10. Write an equation

which relates x and y.
1
y


y=

k
4=
10
= 40
40
y =

Example 2 Given that y = 3 when x = 6, find the equation relates x and y if:
1 1 1
(a) 2 (b) 3 (c)

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III. Joint Variation
A. Representing a Joint Variation using the symbol .
i. If one quantity is proportional to two or more other quantities, this
relationship is known as joint variation.
ii. y varies directly as x and z is written as y xz.

iii. y varies directly as x and inversely z is written as .
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iv. y varies inversely as x and z is written as .

Example 1 State the relationship of each of the following variations using the symbol
''.
(a) x varies jointly as y and z.
(b) x varies inversely as y and .
(c) x varies directly as r3 and inversely as y.

B. Solving Problems involving Joint Variation

i. If , then = , where k is a constant and n = 2, 3 and .
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ii. If , then = , where k is a constant and n = 2, 3 and .


iii. If , then = , where k is a constant and n = 2, 3 and .

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Example 2 Given that when p = 4, q = 2 and r = 16, calculate the value of r
2
when p = 9 and q = 4.

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Exercise
1. It is given that y varies directly as the cube of x and y = 192 when x = 4. Calculate the value
of x when y = 24.

2. It is given that y varies directly as the square of x and y = 9 when x = 2. Calculate the value
of x when y = 16.

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3. Given that y varies inversely as w and x and y = 45 when w = 2 and x = 6. Find the value of
1
x when y = 15 and w = 3.

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4. Given that and p = 3 when q = 2 and r = 16, find the value of p when q = 3 and

r = 4.