COMBINED VARIATION – variation where a

quantity depends on two or more other

quantities, and varies directly with some of
them and varies inversely with others.

“y varies directly as x and inversely as z”

𝑘𝑥
𝑦=
𝑧
Examples:

1. If y varies directly as x and inversely as z, and y = 25 when x = 10

and z = 2, find y when x = 18 and z = 9.

𝑘𝑥 𝑘𝑥
𝑦= 𝑦=
𝑧 𝑧

𝑘(10) (5)(18)
25 = 𝑦=
2 9

90
25 = 5𝑘 𝑦=
9

25 5𝑘
= 𝒚 = 𝟏𝟎
5 5

𝟓𝒙
𝒌=𝟓 𝒚=
𝒛
2. If x varies directly as y and inversely as z, and x = 10 when y = 5 and z = 3, for
what value of z will x = 3 and y = 4?

𝑘𝑦 𝑘𝑦
𝑥= 𝑥=
𝑧 𝑧

𝑘(5) (6)(4)
10 = 3=
3 𝑧

3 𝑘(5) 3 24
10 = 3=
5 3 5 𝑧

30 24
= 𝑘 𝑧(3) = (𝑧)
5 𝑧

𝒌=𝟔 3𝑧 = 24

𝟔𝒚 3𝑧 24
𝒙= =
𝒛 3 3

𝒛=𝟖
3. The volume (V) of gas varies directly as the temperature (t) and inversely as the
pressure (p). If the volume is 230 cubic centimeters when the temperature is 300°K
and the pressure is 20 pounds per square centimeter, what is the volume when the
temperature is 270°K and the pressure is 30 pounds per square centimeter?

𝑘𝑡 𝑘𝑡
𝑉= 𝑉=
𝑝 𝑝

46
𝑘(300) ( 3 )(270)
230 = 𝑉=
20 30

46(90)
230 = 𝑘(15) 𝑉=
30

230 𝑘(15) 4 140

= 𝑉=
15 15 30

𝟒𝟔
𝟒𝟔 𝟑
𝒕
𝒌 = 𝑽= 𝑽 = 𝟏𝟑𝟖
𝟑 𝒑

* The volume of the gas is 138 cubic centimeters.

Exercises:

Answer Module test I (2,3,6,7) and

II (3 & 6).