Solving Problems Involving

Variation
Quarter 2 – MELC 3
 LEARNING COMPETENCY
The learner illustrates situations that involve the
following variations:
Solves problems involving variations.
A. DIRECT VARIATION

“y varies directly as x”
“y is directly proportional to x” and
“y is proportional to x” may be translated mathematically
as 𝒚 = 𝒌𝒙, where k is the constant of variation.

For two quantities x and y, an increase in x causes an

increase in y as well. Similarly, a decrease in x causes a
decrease in y.
EXAMPLE
The table below shows that the cost (c) varies directly as the number of facemasks
(n). Find the constant of variation and the equation which describes the relation.
How much do you pay if you buy 12 pieces of facemasks?
Cost (c) 10 20 30 40 50 …
No. of Face Masks (n) 1 2 3 4 5 … 12
Solution
Since the cost c varies directly as the number of facemask n, then c = kn.
Using one of the pairs of values, (2, 20), from the table, substitute the
values of n and c

in c = kn and solve for k.

 Cost (c) 10 20 30 40 50 …
No. of Face Masks (n) 1 2 3 4 5 … 12
Solution
Since the cost c varies directly as the number of facemask n, then c = kn.
Using one of the pairs of values, (2, 20), from the table, substitute the
values of n and c

in c = kn and solve for k.

Therefore, the constant of variation is 10
𝒄 = 𝒌𝒏 𝟐𝟎
𝒌=
20= 𝒌(𝟐) 𝟐
20= 𝟐𝒌 𝒌 = 𝟏𝟎
Form the mathematical equation of the variation by substituting 10 in the statement

𝒄 = 𝒌𝒏
𝒄 = 𝟏𝟎𝒏 Equation of the variation
In solving the cost of 12 facemasks substitute 12 to n in the equation c = kn.

𝒄 = 𝟏𝟎𝒏
𝒄 = 𝟏𝟎(𝟏𝟐)
𝒄 = 𝑷𝒉𝒑 𝟏𝟐𝟎 Thus, 12 pieces of facemasks cost Php120.00
B. INVERSE VARIATION

“y varies inversely as x”
“y is inversely proportional to x” and

Whenever the product of corresponding values of two

quantities is a constant, then one quantity varies
inversely as the other.
For two quantities x and y, an increase in x causes a
decrease in y or vice versa. We can say that y varies
𝒌
inversely as the other. In symbols, 𝒙𝒚 = 𝒌 𝑜𝑟 𝒚 = 𝒙
EXAMPLE
Alejah and Remy are figuring out a way to balance themselves on a seesaw. Alejah
who weighs 20 kilograms sits 2 meters from the fulcrum. Remy who weighs 25
kilograms tried sitting at different distances from the fulcrum in order to balance the
weight of Alejah. If you were Remy, how far from the fulcrum should you sit?
To balance the weight of Alejah, Remy has Solution
to sit at a distance closer to the fulcrum. The
relation shows that the distance (d) varies Let us first solve for k
inversely as the weight (w) and can be
transformed into a mathematical equation 𝒌 = 𝒅𝒘
𝒌
as 𝒅= 𝒌 = (𝟐)(20)
𝒘
𝒌 = 𝟒𝟎
EXAMPLE
Alejah and Remy are figuring out a way to balance themselves on a seesaw. Alejah
who weighs 20 kilograms sits 2 meters from the fulcrum. Remy who weighs 25
kilograms tried sitting at different distances from the fulcrum in order to balance the
weight of Alejah. If you were Remy, how far from the fulcrum should you sit?
Solution
Let us first solve for k Solve for the distance of Remy from the fulcrum.

𝒌 = 𝒅𝒘 𝒌 𝒅 = 𝟏. 𝟔𝒎
𝒅=
𝒌 = (𝟐)(20) 𝒘 Hence, Remy has to sit
𝟒𝟎 1.6 meters
𝒌 = 𝟒𝟎 𝒅= from the fulcrum.
𝟐𝟓
C. JOINT VARIATION

The statement “a varies jointly as b and c” means 𝒂 = 𝒌𝒃𝒄,

𝒂
or 𝒌 = where k is the constant of variation.
𝒃𝒄
EXAMPLE
The area of triangle varies jointly as the base and the height. A triangle with a base of
8 cm and a height of 9 cm has an area of 36 square centimeters. Find the area when
the base is 10 cm and the height is 7 cm.

Solution
𝑨 = 𝟑𝟔𝒄𝒎²
Let us first solve for k.

𝑨 = 𝒌𝒃𝒉
𝒉 = 𝟗 𝒄𝒎
𝟑𝟔𝒄𝒎² = 𝒌(𝟖 𝒄𝒎)(𝟗𝐜𝐦)
𝟑𝟔 𝟏
𝒌= 𝒌 =
𝟕𝟐 𝟐 𝒃 = 𝟖 𝒄𝒎
Solution
𝑨=?
Solve for the area of a triangle.

𝑨 = 𝒌𝒃𝒉
𝒉 = 𝟕 𝒄𝒎
𝟏
𝑨 = (𝟏𝟎)(𝟕)
𝟐
𝟏
𝑨 = (𝟕𝟎) 𝒃 = 𝟏𝟎 𝒄𝒎
𝟐
𝑨 = 𝟑𝟓 𝒄𝒎² “Therefore, the area of a triangle is 35cm²”
D. COMBINED VARIATION

This is the kind of variation that involves both the direct

and inverse variations.

The statement “z varies directly as x and inversely as y”

𝒌𝒙 𝒛𝒚
means 𝒛 = , or 𝒌 = , where k is the constant of
𝒚 𝒙
variation.
EXAMPLE
The force of attraction, F of a body varies directly as its mass m and inversely as the
square of the distance d from the body. When m = 8 kilograms and d = 5 meters, F =
100 Newtons. Find F when m = 2 kilograms and d = 15 meters.

Solution
Solve for k: Solve for force of attraction F

𝒌𝒎 𝟖𝒌 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎(𝟐𝟓) 𝒌𝒎 𝟑𝟏𝟐. 𝟓(𝟐)

𝑭= 2 𝑭= 2 𝑭=
𝒅 𝟐𝟓𝟎𝟎 𝒅 𝟐𝟐𝟓
𝒌=
𝒌 𝟖 𝟖 𝒌 𝟐 𝟐𝟓
𝟏𝟎𝟎 = 2 𝑭= 𝑭= 𝒐𝒓 𝟐. 𝟕𝟖
𝟓 𝒌 = 𝟑𝟏𝟐. 𝟓 (𝟏𝟓)2 𝟗
To solve problems involving variations:

1. translate statements into mathematical sentence.

2. find the constant of variation.

3. solve for the values of missing variables.

4. formulate the equation for the relationship of variables or quantities.