Combined Variation

A. Determining the relation between

three or more variables for
a combined variation
1. ..
bined.var1at1onlpvolve-s·a con,binatio:rr
··a dir~~t,._vari~ti.Onf ,Or'' joint··vari~tion, 扣
··-rse.var,1at1on.
For example,
From the formula for speed,
s
When T.1s a constant, D = the constant —
1
T
~ - ,子'I

S Va.ties #ire
When D is a constant, ST = the constant o
s·· y·a.r,es ,..nye.r~elJ-as
Thus, th e vanat1on in the values of s, 二
and T is a combined variation involvir - l:.

the combination of a direct·var1at1on an-

an Inverse variation.
 f
l
2. In general,
(b) V oc => V oc 五 - A氐ve 吵rect
Direct Inverse Combined y -5 - Below ⇒ Inverse
vari.at.ion variation van.at1.on
+ ➔ v varies directly as the square root of w and
y oc 炉 I y oc.—1
z" y oc —
炉
廿
inversely as the square root of y.

• In the equation form:

y =-了,
矿 where k = constant of vanat,on
z I祝Ml扎fll
Joint Inverse Combined Determine the relation between the variables for
van.ac.,on variation vari.at.ion each of the following combined variations.
+ ➔
woe 炉yn woe —1
woe 立 (a) P varies directly as x and inversely as the
zP z!' square root of y. Given P = 20 when x = 5
• In the equation form: and y = 9.
kx'"yn (b) W varies jointly as v and the square of r, and
W= , where k = constant of variation inversely as the cube root of x. Given W = 48
沪
when v = 3, r = 2 and x = 8.

l1l 皿工缸谓 I Solution

X
Write each of the following relations in the (a) P oc 一一 千 O Write in the variation form.
variation form. 5
(a) y varies directly as x and inversely as the kx $ Write in the
P = - , where k = constant 七 equation
square of z. 5 form.
(b) y varies jointly as x and the square of v, and
inversely as the square root of z. 20 =玺l _ • Substitute the values
柯 of the variables.
Solution
20(3) = 5k - 0 Solve to obtain k.
(a) y varies directly as x and inversely as the 5k = 60
square of z.
k = 12
X 千 Direct ::::; Above
In symbol: y oc -,-
z - I nverse ⇒ Below 12x
Relation: P =— +---- 0 Write the relation.
5
(b) y varies jointly 缸 x
and the square of v, and
inversely as the square root of z. (b) W oc —-
vr
欢
2

xv2 - Direct ="' Above

In symbol: y oc —
石 千 Inverse ~ Below
kvr2
W= —-, where k = constant
右
k(3)(2勺
48 =
丙
It~初l订暑i·I 48(2) = 12k
12k = 96
Write each of the following combined variations
k=8
in words.
(a) p oc
X3
—
8vr2
Relation: W = 3-[i -—
z
(b) V oc 厂
\

Solution 11 :M/出詈~ll
x3 -
(a) p oc —z -
Above ~ J 'rect
Below ⇒ Inverse
\ It is given that R varies directly as the square of
S and inversely as T. If R = IO when S = 8 and
p varies directly as the cube of x and inversely T = 3.2, calculate
as z. (a) the value of R when S = IO and T = 0.2.
(b) the positive value of S when R = 16 and T= 8.
 Va柯
the
cm

＝邓了27了
l cu a1
a ten u_ ofan
eb bd
Solution

818 护护护
_

=8 _ E=l 8
s2 ,

lp
Calculate the value of R.
I (a) Roe 一
T S = 10 and T = 0.2 ======

7
kS2 0.5(10勺
R= R=
T 0.2
k(8勺 = 250
10=
3.2

2-184
(b) Calculate the value _

10 X 3.2 of S.

b
k=
64 R = 16 and T = 8
= 0.5 0.5S2
o.ss2 16 =
Thus, R = 8
T 16 X 8 ,..__Alt ernative
52 =
0.5 民~ Method
= 256 fProporti如 Method \
S = 16
Given E oc 匹．
p2
Hence, E = 竺 , where k = constant of vanation
p2
The table shows three sets of values of the variables k= 且
m, n, p and E. m罚

Thus, k =旦＝孚
m 2 12 8 m罚 m1 沉
n 16 Calculate the value of a .
a 9
Let
p 4 6 b m1 = 2, n1 = 16, p1 = 4, f 1 = 1.5,
E 1.5 2 18 m = 12, n = a, p = 6, E = 2.

Given that E varies directly as m and the square root

Thus, 纽立＝迳
12 拜 2 打苍 、一

of n, and inversely as the square of p. Calculate the

values of a and b. —=3
蒜
6

屈 =2
Solution a= 22
Formula Method =4
m./n
Given E oc —一一
Calculate the value of b.
p2 Let
叽= 2, n1 = 16, p1 = 4, E1 = 1.5,
Hence, E = km 石 , where k = constant of vanatlon m = 8, n = 9, p = b, E = 18.
p2
Thus, 室＝孚
k(2)✓I6 8范 2 打百
1.5 =
42 3b2
24 = 8k 4
=3
k=3 b2 = 4

I Thus, E =三
p2
b=±2

Calculate the value of a.

m = 12, n = a, p = 6 and£= 2 B. Solving problem s involving
2 = 3(12) 丘 combine d variation
62
吓杠＇，日:,暑刊
2= 亘 The resistance , R ·ohm, of a piece of wire varies
36
心 =2 directly as the length, L m, of the wire and inversely
a= 22 as the area, A mm气 of the cross section of the wire.
=4 (a) Write the relation involving the variables R, L
and A in the variation form.
(b) The table shows the resistances of five pieces
of copper wire according to the areas of their
respective cross sections.
_ The maximum load, M kg, that can be supported
by a crossbeam varies inversely as the length,
Copper wire p Q s T u L m, and jointly as the width, w cm, and the square
of its depth, d cm. The maximum load that can be
Area of cross
1.0 1.5 1.8 2.0 3.0 supported by a crossbeam of length 3 m, width
section, A mm2
12 cm and depth 5 cm is 40 kg. The table shows
Resistance, R ohm 27 24 20 13.5 9 the measurements of two crossbeams made from
the same material.
(i) Based on the table, group the wires into
two sets, X and Y, such that the wires in Length, W idth, Depth,
Crossbeam
set X are longer than the wires in set Y. L (m ) w (cm) d (cm)
(ii) Given the length of each wire in set Xis 4
A 3 15
2 m. Calculate the length of each wire in
set Y. B 4 X 8

Solution (a) Determine whether crossbeam A can support a

(a) Combined variation: R oc —
L
A
load of 35 kg.
(b) The maximum load that can be supported by
L crossbeam B is 48 kg. Calculate the value
(b) (i) Roc- ⇒ RAocL
A of x.
This shows that RA varies directly as L.
Solution
Thus, a longer wire will have a larger
value of RA. Given Moc —-.
wd2
L
Wire p Q s T u I M= 字， where k = constant of variation
A 1.0 1.5 1.8 2.0 3.0
Substitute M= 40, w = 12, d = 5, L = 3:
R 27 24 20 13.5 9 I 40 = k(l2)(5勺
3
RA 27 36 36 27 27
40 = IOOk
36 > 27 k = 0.4
Set X = {Q, S} and set Y = {P, T, U} 0.4wd2
Relation: M =
L
(ii) Use the information about wire Q to find
the constant of variation k. (a) Substitute w = 15, d = 4, L = 3:
24 k(2) _
=— Substitute A = 1.5, M= 0.4(15)(4勺
3
1.5 R = 24 and L = 2. '----- \ = 32
36 = 2k
k = 18 The maximum load that can be supported by
18L crossbeam A = 32 kg (< 35 kg)
Thus, R =
A Thus, crossbeam A cannot support a load of
Use the information 啦ufwire P to find 35 kg.
the length of each wire in set Y. (b) Crossbeam B can support a maximum load of
18L 48 kg.
R == Thus, M = 48
A

27 = —
18L 士— Substitute R = 27 Substitute w = x, d = 8, L = 4:
1.0 and A= 1.0. 0.4x(8勺
27 4
= 48
L=
18 6.4x = 48
== 1.5
Thus, the length of each wire in set Y is
x=
48
6.4
—
1.5 m. X = 7.5
 (b) V varies jointly as the square of x and y, and
尸;,,ative Practi ce 1.3 inversely as the square root of r.
－，一'' .. ..
X 2 5 6
1. Write each of the following relations in the 4 7
y a
variation form and equation form.
(a) y varies directly as the square of x and r 100 36 b
inversely as the square root of z. 84
V 6 50
(b) R varies inversely as p and directly as the
cube of q.
(c) G varies jointly as m and r, and inversely as 5. The time, T hours, taken to make tables varies
the square of v. directly as n, the number of tables made, and
inversely as p, the number of workers involved
2. Determine the relation between the variables for It was found that 16 workers can make 8 identical
each of the following combined variations. tables in 12 hours.
(a) Express Tin terms of n and p.
Combine d Value of the (b) Calculate the time, in hours, taken b:,
variation variable 15 workers to make 10 identical tables.
(c) If 15 such table足 are made in 18 hours.
(a) y vanes directly as calculate the num殴 of workers involved.
the square of x and X = 3, V = 9,
6. The pressure, P kPa, of a sample of gas varie 又
inversely as the square y = 48
root of v. directly as its temperature, T K, and inverse!:,
as its volume, V litres. A container A with a
(b) R varies directly as the volume of 100 litres is filled with the gas at a
T= 6, P = 9,
cube of T and inversely temperature of 400 K and the pressure of the ga~
R = 32
as P. is 32 kPa.
(a) All the gas in container A is transferred
(c) Q varies jointly as m m = 10, to container B with a volume of 80 litres
and the cube of n, and n = 2, through a valve and the temperature of the
inversely as the square p = 25, gas is increased to 500 K. Calculate the
root of p . Q = 64 pressure of the gas, in kPa, in container B
(b) Show how the pressure of the gas in
container A can be reduced by 2 kPa.
3. It is given that P varies directly as Q and
inversely as the square root of R. If P = 4 when 7. The resistance , R .Q, of a piece of wire varies
Q = 12 and R = 81, calculate 巴l) directly as the length, L m, of the wire and
(a) the value of P when Q = 2.8 and R = 49. inversely as the square of the diameter, d mm, of
(b) the value of R when P = 0.4 and Q = 0.8. the wire. The following shows the information
of three wires.
4. Calculate the values of a and b based on each of
the following combined variations stated. Wire X: Length 1.8 m, diameter 0.8 mm.
(a) w varies inversely as the square root of x resistance 45 .Q
and directly as the square root of y. Wire f: Length 2.0 m, diameter 0.8 mm
25 b Wire Z: Length 2.5 m, diameter 1.0 mm
X 12

y 27 49 50 Calculate the ratio of the resistance of wire 入

to the resistance of wire Y to the resistance oi
w 4.5 a 7.5
wire Z.