NOTES 11.

1 Direct, Joint, and Inverse Variation

DIRECT VARIATION

A linear equation of the form y = kx , where k  0 , is called direct variation. The variable y varies directly with
the variable x . In other words, the variables change at the same rate: If the value of one variable doubles, the
value of the other variable doubles, if one value triples, the other triples. The graph is a line passing through
the origin with slope k . In this case the slope is also called the constant of variation.

Example 1: Write and graph the function.

y varies directly as x , and y = 30 when x = −6 .

(Hint: Plot the points (0, 0) and (-6, 30) and connect.
Then use algebra or slope techniques to find the
Constant of Variation k.)

Example 2: Write an equation of variation to represent the situation and solve for the indicated information.

The number of gallons g of fuel used on a trip varies directly with the number of miles m traveled. If a trip of
270 miles required 12 gallons of fuel, how many gallons are required for a trip of 400 miles? (Round answer to
the nearest gallon.)

JOINT VARIATION

There are situations where more than one variable is involved in a direct variation problem. In these cases
the problem is called joint variation. The equation remains the same except that additional variables are
included in the product. For example if y varies jointly as x and z , the equation will be y = kxz .

Example 3: Joint variation

y varies jointly as x and z , and y = 12 when x = 2 and z = 4 . Find y when x = 5 and z = 2 .

Example 4: Write an equation of variation to represent the situation and solve for the indicated information.

The area A of a triangle varies jointly as the base b and the height h , and A = 12 m 2 when b = 6 m and
h = 4 m . Find b when A = 36 m 2 and h = 8 m .

INVERSE VARIATION

k
An equation of the form y = ( k  0 ) is called inverse variation. In this situation, one quantity increases as
x
the other decreases. The graph is a curve that never touches either axis. (hyperbola)

Example 5: Write and graph the function

y varies inversely as x , and y = 5 when x = 2 .

Example 6: Write an equation of variation to represent the situation and solve for the indicated information.

The time to complete a project varies inversely with the number of employees. If 3 people can complete the
project in 7 days, how long will it take 5 people?

You can rewrite variation functions in terms of k .

y k
Direct Variation: y = kx → k = Inverse Variation: y = → k = xy
x x

In direct variation, the ratio of the two quantities is constant. In inverse variation, the product of the two
quantities is constant.

Example 7: Determine whether each data set represents a direct variation, inverse variation, or neither.

x 8 12 16 x 3 1 0.5
y 2 3 4 y 5 15 30