DIRECT

• VARIATION

Direct variation is a type of proportionality wherein one quantity directly varies with respect to a change in
another quantity. This implies that if there is an increase in one quantity then the other quantity will
experience a proportionate increase. Similarly, if one quantity decreases then the other quantity also
decreases. Direct variation is a linear relationship hence, the graph will be a straight line.

Further, if two quantities are in direct variation then one will be a constant multiple of the other. In this
article, we will elaborate on direct variation, its definition, formula, graph and associated examples.

Direct Variation Formula: y = kx

Here k is the constant of proportionality. If x is not equal to zero then the value of the constant of
proportionality can be given as k = y/x. Thus, the ratio of these two variables is always a constant number.
Another way of expressing the direct variation equation is x = y / k. This means that x is directly proportional
to y with the constant of proportionality equalling 1 / k.

The formula for the circumference of a circle is given by C = 2πr or C = πd. Here, r is the radius and d is the
diameter. This is an example of a direct variation. Thus, the circumference of a circle and its corresponding
diameter are in direct variation with π being the constant of proportionality.

The quantity of Iron boxes made is directly proportional to the number of iron blocks. The number of iron
blocks needed for 40 boxes is 160. How many iron blocks are needed for a box?

In the given problem, the number of iron blocks needed for 40 boxes is referred to as y = 160, and the number
of boxes is referred to as x = 40. The number of iron blocks needed for a box is k. Here we use the direct
variation formula of y = kx.

160 = k × 40
k = 160/40
k=4

Thus 4 iron blocks are needed for a box.

Let us understand the formula of direct variation with the help of a simple example. Example: Let us assume
that y varies directly with x, and y = 30 when x = 6. What is the value of y when x = 100?

The given quantities are y1 = 30, x1 = 6, x2 = 100, y2 = ? Using direct variation formula we have the following
expression.

y1 / x1 = y2 / x2
30/6 = y2 / 1005 = y2 / 100
y2 = 500

Therefore the value of y when x = 100 is 500.

• Example 1: Plot the graph of the direct variation y = 5x

Solution:

x 0 1 -1

y 0 5 -5

Example 2: Let x and y be in direct variation, x = 6 and y = 21. Then find the direct variation equation.
Solution: As x and y are in a direct variation thus y = kx or k = y / x.
k = 21 / 6 = 7 / 2
y = 72x72�
Answer: The direct variation equation is y = 72x

• INVERSE
In our day-to-day life, we observe that the variation in values of some quantity depends upon the variation in values
of some other quantity. Inverse variation means that a variable is inversely varying with respect to another variable.
It represents the inverse relationship between two quantities. Hence, a variable is inversely proportional to another
variable.

There are many real-life examples of inverse variation, that can be seen in our day to day life. For example:

• If the distance travelled by train at constant speed increases then the time taken by it increases too and vice
versa
• If the number of people is added to a job, the time taken to accomplish the job decreases

Solution: Let, the desired time to fill the tank be

�
minutes. We know that as the number of pipes increases, the time taken to fill the tank will decrease. Hence, this is
a case of inverse variation. In other words, the number of pipes is inversely proportional to the time taken. Thus,

�1�2 = �2�1
⇒ 9� = 124
� = 3 ℎ����
Example 2:

Solution: Let the number of workers employed to build the wall in 20 days be

�
. We know that time taken to build the house is inversely proportional to the number of workers required. Thus,

�1�2 = �2�1
⇒ 24� = 2040
In an inverse variation, the relationship between two quantities or variables is defined by inverse proportion. If x and
y are two quantities then, the inverse relationship between them is given by:

x ∝ 1/y

or

x = k/y

xy = k

See the examples given below to find the relationship between two quantities in inverse variation.

Inverse Variation Table

The inverse variation table can be written by placing the values of one quantity and finding the other.

For example, y = 10/x

Let us put some values for x and find the value of y.

x y = 10/x

1 10

2 5

3 3.33

4 2.5

5 2

• JOINT
Joint Variation refers to a scenario in which the value of one variable depends on two, or more, other variables when the
other variables are held constant. For example, one may say, "C varies jointly as A and B, if C=ABX for some constant X."
Once understood, the concept can be used to represent the interactions of multiple variables at once.

Source

How does Joint Variation work?

While the concept can be challenging to conceptualize with variables, it is often helpful to incorporate an example. For
example, if C is jointly proportional to A and B and C=6, when A=3 and B=4, find C when A=7 and B=4. First, we must
begin by finding our constant variable, referred to above as X. If we know that C=6, when A=3 and B=4, the formula is
6=3(4)X. Thus, we can deduce that the value for X is .5. Now, we can plug our X value back into the new equation as
C=7(4)(.5). This means that the value of C, when A=7 and B=4 is 14.
 • COMBINED

- a combination of direct and indirect variation, or joint and indirect variation o when a quantity varies directly (or
jointly) with one or more variables and inversely with one or more variables - described by formulas such as 𝑦 = 𝑘𝑥𝑧 𝑤 ,
where 𝑦 varies directly with 𝑥 and 𝑧 and inversely with 𝑤 o depending on how the variables in the numerator and/or
denominator change (increasing or decreasing), the dependent variable could increase, decrease, or remain unchanged -
Example of combined variation: o Newton’s law of universal gravitation ▪ the formula is 𝐹 = 𝑘∙𝑚1∙𝑚2 𝑑2 , where 𝐹 is the
gravitational force between two objects, 𝑚1 is the mass of one object, 𝑚2 is the mass of another object, 𝑑 is the
distance between the two objects, and 𝑘 is the constant of variation ▪ for this formula, the constant of variation 𝑘 is the
gravitational constant (0.000000000066743…)

Example 1: In baseball, a pitcher’s earned-run average 𝐴 varies directly as the number of earned runs 𝑅 allowed and
inversely as the number of innings pitched 𝐼. a. Express the previous statement as a formula. b. If a pitcher has an
earned-run average of 3.6 after pitching 95 innings and allowing 38 earned-runs, what is the value of 𝑘? 3.6 = 𝑘(38) 95
95(3.6) = 38𝑘 95(3.6) 38 = 𝑘 𝑘 = 9 c. What is the earned-run average of a pitcher who gave up 69 earned runs in 308
innings? Round to the hundredths place. 𝐴 = 9(69) 308 𝐴 = 621 308 𝐴 ≈ 2.02 Answers to Examples: 1. 𝑟 = 𝑘𝑠 𝑡 ; 𝑘 = 14 ; 2.
𝑦 = 𝑘√𝑥𝑧 3 𝑤5 ; 𝑘 = 544 375 ; 3a. 𝐶 = 𝑘∙𝑟∙𝑚 𝑡 2 ; 3b. 𝑘 = 40 ; 3c. 𝐶 = 8,000 ; 4a. 𝐴 = 𝑘∙𝑅 𝐼 ; 4b. 𝑘 = 9 ; 4c. 𝐴 = 2.02 ;