12 Direct and

Inverse
Proportions

INTRODUCTION
Suppose 2 pencils cost 8, then 4 pencils will cost 16.
Clearly. more pencils will cost more.
Again. if 3 men can do a piece of work in 8 hours, then 1 man alone can do it in 24 hours
Thus. less men at work, more will be the ttme taken to finish t.
Thus. change in one quantity brings out a change in the other.

Variation tuwo quantities depend on each other in such a way that the change in one
results in a corresponding
be in variation.
change tn the other, then the tuwo quantties are said o
There are many situations In our daily life where the variation in one quantity
brings
a variation in the other.

EXAMPLEs (1) More articles will cost more.

(ii) More is the money deposited in a bank., more is the interest earned in a tixed
period.
(1i) More is the distance covered by a car, more is the petrol consumed by it.
(tv) More is the speed of a car, less is the time taken to cover a fixed distance.
(v) More is the number of workers at a work, less is the time taken to complete
the work.

Direct Proportion (or Direct Variation) Two quantities x andy are said to be in direct proportion
fwhenever the value of x increases (or decreases). then the value of y increases
(ordecreases) in such a way that the ratioremains constant.
y

Thus, x and y are in direct proportion, is = k, where k is a constant, ie

X12 X3 =.. =k.

1
Examples (1). (t) and (ii) given above are the cases of direct proportion.
rect
REMARK When x and y are in direct proportion, we also say that x and y have a dirc
variation.

158
 159
Direct and Inverse
Proportions
SOLVED EXAMPLES
EXAMPLE1.
Observe the tables gtven below and fnd whether x and y are directly proportlonal:

3 5
7 9 12
y 6 10 14 18 24
(ii) 4 7 12 15
12 21 36 60

Clearly, 3 5 7 9 12
Solution
(i)
6 10 -
14 18 24 (constant)
x and y are directly proportional.
(ii) We have:

2-and-
12 21 36 3 and 60
15

X 4712 15
* y 1 2 21 36 60
x and y are not directly proportional.
in the table
proportional, find the values of x. X2 and y,
EXAMPLE 2. x and y are directly
given below.
10
X
336 A
50 96 Y1

we have:
Solution Since x and y are directly proportional,
10

Jow. x -605

3- 2121X2 -96-8.
96 96
36
U1 =120.
336 10 12 y x1) =(12x10)
y1 12

=120.
X= 5, X2
=8 and y distance would it cover in
How much
432 km in
36 litres of petrol.
EXAMPLE 3. A car covers
25 litres ofpetrol?
we have:
distance bex km. Then,
Solution Let the required 36 25
Quantity of petrol
(in litres) 432
Distance (in km)
ed, less is the distance covered.
of petrol consumed
quantity
less is the
Clearly, proportion.
case of direct
So, it is a

(xx1) =
12 x25) x =300.
36
25 2
432 km.
distance
is 300
required
 Class 8
Mathematics
for
purchased fo R178
dfor
60 cloth
can be
much
how
3725,
cloth costs
XAMPLE 4. If50 metres ofa metres.
Then,
we
nav
of cloth be
x
Let the required length
Solution 50
X

Length ofcloth(in metres) 3725

1788

Its cost (in rupees) of cloth.

cost, less is
the length
Clearly. less is the 1788x 2
=-
it is a c a s e of direct
próportion. X 24
So, (1788 x2) 149
50 X 2 (149 x x) =

1788
3725 1788 149
of cloth = 24 m.
required length how many
sheets of the san
e
thick p a p e r
is 30 grams,
sheets of
EXAMPLE 5. t h e weight of 9
kilograms?
paper
wouid weigh 1
bex.
Let the required
number of sheets
Solution
1kg=x1000 grams =1250 grams.
Thus, we have:
9 X
Number of sheets
30 1250
Weight of sheets (in grams)|
of sheets.
more is the number
More is the weight,
So. it is a case of direct proportion.
9 3
10 1 2 5 0 x =x1250=375.

30 1250 10
number of sheets is 375.
Hence. the required
75 km/hr.
at a uniform speed of
EXAMPLE 6. A train is moving minutes?
wll it travel in 24
(0 How far cover 175 km?
much time will it
(1) In how cover 175
Ku
24 minutes be x km and let it
covered by the train in
Solution Let the distance
in y minutes.

Then, we have:

Distance covered (in km) 75 X 175

Time taken (in minutes)
60 24 y
distance will be covered in more time.
uniform, more
Since the speed is
So, it is a case of direct proportion.

75X 175
60 24

(1) Now 60 24 4 24
x=x24 -30.
 Direct and Inverse Proportions 161

_ 175 175
(i) Also,
60 y y
5 y (175x 4)
175x 4
= 140.
5
time taken to cover 175 km is 140 min, 1.e., 2 hours 20 minutes.

EXAMPLE 7.
A vertical pole 5 m 60 cm high casts a shadow 3 m 20 cm long. Find at the same
time (t) the length of shadow cast by another pole 10 m 50 cm high, (11) the hetght
of a pole which casts a shadow 5 m long.

Let the requtred length of shadow be x cm and the required helght of the pole be
Solution
y em. Then, we have:

Height of the pole (in cm) 560 1050 y

Length of its shadow (in cm) 320 x 500
More is the height of pole, more is the length of Its shadow.
So, it is a case of direct proportion.
560 1050 y
320 X 500
560 1050 1050
() NoW 320
4x1050
= 600
7x =(4 x1050) x =-

7
600 cm =
6 metres.
length of shadow
=
the required

(i) And, 560 y

(11) And 320 500 4 500

y - x500=875.
875 cm =
8 m 75 cm.
the required length of pole =

on the map. Flnd the

x 10". Two
cities a r e 5 cm apart
EXAMPLE 8. The scale map is 1:3
of a kilometres.
between them in
actual distance
Then, we have:
distance be x cm.
Solution Let the required
5
Distance on the map (in cm) x
(in cm)
3x10
Actual distance
distance.
more is the actual
distance o n the map,
More is the
case of direct proportuon.
So, it is a (15x10').
x =

5
1) 5 x3x10'
=

3x107 15x10 km
10')
Required
actual
distance
= (15 x
Cn100 x1000)
15x 10'
102x103 Km= (1510km
km = 1500 km.
km (15 x 100)
(15 x 10)
=

is 1500 km.
between the two cities
distance

Hence. the actual

 164
Mathematics for Class8

EXAMPLE 2 the values and y

x X2.1 and n
* and y proportional, flnd the
inversely
are
table guen below:
48
16 2
12 16
8
Solutton we mnust
have xy =Constant,
and y are inversely proportional,
12 x 8 = 16x , = x, x 4 X, x 16 = 4 8 x Y2*

96
6
Now. 12 x8 16xy 16y, =96 16
1 2x8 x x4 4x, =96 > X 96244

1 2x 8 x, x 16 16x2 = 96 > X2 * 16 6.

96
2.
12 x8 48 x ya 48y2 = 96 Y 2 48

24, x =
ya =2.
6,y =6and
4 5 men can do a ptece ofworktn 49 days, in how many days wll 35 men doi
EXAMPLE3.

Solution Let the number of days be x. Then, we have:

required
35
Number of men 45
Number of days 49

Clearly, less men will take more days to finish the work.

So, it is a case of inverse proportion.

45 x 49 35x x » 35x = 45 x49 x =

45x49 63.
35
required number of days 63. =

EXAMPLE 4. f14 workers can butld a wall tn 45 hours, how many workers will be requlredu
do the same work in 35 hours?

Solution Let the required number of workers be x. Then, we have:

Number of workers 14 X

Number of hours 45 35

For finishing the work in less hours, more workers will be needed.
So, it is a case of inverse proportion.
14 x 45
1 4 x 45 *x35 35x =14 x 45 x=: =I18.
35
Hence, the required number of workers = 18.

EXAMPLE 5.
6 pipes can filla tank tn 1 hour 24 minutes. How long will it take tofll the tans
type are used?
7 pipes of the same

Solution
It is gven that 6 pipes can fill the tank in 84 minutes.
Let 7 pipes fill the tank in x minutes. Then, we have:

Number of pipes 6
7
Time taken to fill thetank (in minutes)| 84 x
 Direct and Inverse
Proportions 165
Clearly, more pipes will fAll the tank in
less time.
So. it is a case of inverse
proportion.
6x84 7 x* =
7x =
6x84
=6x84
= 72
7
required time to fill the tank =72 minutes 1
hour 12 minutes. =

wE &In a fort. 300 men had

EXAMPLE6.

provistonsfor 90 days.
the food last at the same rate?After days,
20 50 men left
How long would the Jort.
Solution Clearly. the remaining food 1s sufficient for 300 men
for (90 20) days 70 days. =

But, remaining number of men

=(300 50) 250. -

Let the remaining food be sufflcient for 250 men for x

days.
Then, we have:

Number of men 300 250

Number of days 70 X

Clearly. less men will have food for more days.

So. it is a case of inverse proportion.
.
300 x 70 = 250 x x 250x = 300 x 70
300 x 70
84.
250
t h e required number of days = 84.

EXERCISE 12B
1. Observe the tables given below and in each case find whether x and y are inversely

proportional:
10 14 16
(i) x

9 15 21 24

9 15 3 45
(ii) x 5

10 6 30 2
y 18

6 36
9 3
(iii)
9 1
4 12
and y2 in the table
find the values of x1. X2. yi
2. If x and y are inversely proportional,
given below:
80
16
8
4 5 2 field?
reap the
same
can 20 men

in how many days

field in 8 days,
reap a days?
d . f 35 m e n
can
How many
men can dig it in 6
in 8 days.
1 2 men can dig a pond
 Class
8
166 M a t h e m a t i c s
for raze the
tograze the same fleld
take
cows

would
14
60 km/hr.
of60 km/hr. Ho
5. 6 cows can
graze a feld in 28 days. How long
travelling
at the
speed
\ong
by
6. A car takes 5 hours to reach km/hr?
d e s t i n a t i o n

75 km/hr?
a

the speed articles

in 56 ys. How may
will it take when the car travels at number
of articles
in
in 48 days?
produce a given of
7. Afactoryrequires 42 machines to
number

the
same

will 8 taps of the same

machines would be required to pro
duce
m i n u t e s .
Howlong sle
hour 36
tank in 1
8. taps of the same size nll a how long
take to fill the tank?
If two taps go
out ol
order,
Would
minutes.

tank in 27
S a m e size fill a

C take to fill the

tank? 9 days. How long would the
the remaining taps cattle for
animals in his
food to feed 28
10. A farmer has enough cattler
animals in his reintorcement
of 500 men me
food last. if there were 8 more
However,
a

provisions
for 42 days.
of 900 men had
A garrison
food last now?
arrived. For how many days will the 15 students leave the hostel, f
24 days. If
provision for
hostel. 75 students had food
12. In a
last?
the food provision would each period be
how many days would duration.
How long
day each of 40
minutes
has 9 periods a hours to be the same?
13. A school of school
assuming the number
if the school has 8 periods a day,
when x = 9.
=15 when y
=
6, find y
vary inversely and
x
14. Ifx and y 16.
when y =

and x = 18 when y =
8, find x
15. Ifx and y vary inversely

EXERCISE 12C

OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS

Tick () the correct answer in each of the following:

1. If 14 kg of pulses cost 882, what is the cost of 22 kg of pulses?

(a) 1254 (b)71298 (c)1342 (d) F 1386

2. If8 oranges cost 7 52, how many oranges can be bought for 7 169?

(a) 13 (b) 18 (c) 26 (d) 24

3. A machine fills 420 bottles in 3 hours. How many bottles will it fill in 5 hours?

(a) 252 (b) 700 (c) 504 (d) 300

4. A car is travelling at a uniform speed of 75 km/hr. How much distance will it cover
20 minutes?

(a) 25 kmn (b) 15 km (c) 30 km

(d) 20 km
5. The weight of 12 sheets of a thick paper is 40 grams. How I
many sheets would weigh ns
(a) 480 (b) 360 (c) 300
(d) none of these
6. A pole 14 m high casts a shadow of 10 m. At the same time, what will be the height o
the length of whose shadow is 7 metres?
(a) 20 m (b) 9.8 m (c) 5 mn
(d) none of these
 167
Direct and Inverse
Proportions
. A p h o t o g
raph of a bacteria enlarged 50000 times attains a length of 5 cm. The actual leng
r a

of bacteria is

(a) 1000 cm (b) 10* cm (d) 10 cm

(c) 10 cm
int. Let the actual length e x cm. Then, x x50000 5
X l 0 4 1 0 4

10000

n e s fill.a ill tank in 120

minutes, then
&. 6 pipes 5 pipes will fill it in
(a) 100 min (b) 144 min
(c) 140 min (d) 108 min
P ersons can build a wall in 4 days, then 4 persons can build it in
9.

(a) 5 days (b) 3 days (c) 4 days (d) none of these

3
10 A car takes 2 nours to reach a destination by travelling at 60 km/hr. How long will it take

while travelling at 80 km/hr?

(a) 1 hr 30 min (b) 1 hr 40 min (c) 2 hrs 40 min (d) none of these

Things to Remember

1. Direct proportion:
(i) Two quantities x and y are said to be in direct proportion if whenever the value of x increases
(or decreases), then the value
of y increases (or decreases) in such a way that the ratto
remains constant. y
(ii) When x and y are in direct proportion, we have:
2 -*3,etc.
2. Inversse proportion:
(i) Two quantities x and y are said to be in indirect
proportlon f whenever the value of x
increases (or decreases), then the value of y decreases (or
increases) in such a way that xy
remains constant.
(i1) When x and y are in inverse proportlon, then
X1 X U X 2 * U2 = X3 x U3. and so on.