Lesson 15: Definition of Variations and Translation of

Variation Statement
Learning Competency
The learner will be able to:
a) illustrate situations that involve the following variations: (a) direct; (b) inverse; (c) joint;
(d) combined.
b) translate into variation statement a relationship between two quantities given by: (a) a
table of values; (b) a mathematical equation; (c) a graph, and vice versa.

Prepare Yourself
In this section, it is important to differentiate between a constant and a variable. A constant is a
quantity whose value does not change and has a definite value. On the other hand, a variable is
a quantity whose value is changing and it stands in place of any one of a set of constants,
usually represented by a literal symbol.

Definitions
Direct Variation
𝒚
For variables x and y and constant k, if the ratio equals 𝒌, then 𝒚 is directly proportional to 𝒙,
𝒙
or 𝒚 varies directly as 𝒙. In symbols,
𝒚 = 𝒌𝒙
where 𝒌 is the constant of variation.

Inverse Variation
For variables x and y and constant k, if 𝒙𝒚 is equal to 𝒌, then 𝒚 is inversely proportional to 𝒙, or
𝒚 varies inversely as 𝒙. In symbols,
𝒌
𝒚=
𝒙
where 𝒌 is the constant of variation.

Joint Variation
Joint Variation takes place when one quantity varies directly as the product of two or more other
quantities.
If 𝒛 varies jointly as 𝒙 and 𝒚, then 𝒛 = 𝒌𝒙𝒚, where k is the constant of variation.

Combined Variation
𝒌𝒙𝒚
If 𝒛 varies jointly as 𝒙 and 𝒚 and inversely as 𝒕, then 𝒛 = , where k is the constant of variation.
𝒕

Illustrative Examples

Direct Variation
Example 1. If 𝑦 varies directly as 𝑥, and 𝑦 is 15 when 𝑥 = 3, find 𝑦 if 𝑥 = 5.

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SOLUTION:
Write the equation involving 𝑥 and 𝑦. 𝑦 = 𝑘𝑥
Substitute the given values in the equation. 15 = 𝑘(3)
Solve for 𝑘. 15
=𝑘
3
5=𝑘
Substitute 𝑘 = 5 in the equation. 𝑦 = 5𝑥
Solve for 𝑦 if 𝑥 = 5. 𝑦 = 5(5)
𝑦 = 25

Example 2. The diameter 𝐷 in cm and circumference 𝐶 in cm of eight circles were

measured and tabulated as follows:
Diameter 𝐷 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Circumference 𝐶 6.28 9.42 12.56 15.70 18.84 21.98 25.12 28.26
Solve for the constant of variation.
SOLUTION:
By observation, as the value of the diameter increases, the circumference also increases.
Therefore, circumference 𝐶 varies directly as diameter 𝐷.
𝐶 = 𝑘𝐷
If 𝐷 = 2, when 𝐶 = 6.28, 6.28 = 𝑘(2)
𝒌 = 𝟑. 𝟏𝟒

If 𝐷 = 3, when 𝐶 = 9.42, 9.42 = 𝑘(3)

𝒌 = 𝟑. 𝟏𝟒
The same value is obtained for 𝐷 = 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 𝑎𝑛𝑑 9. Thus, the constant of variation is
𝒌 = 𝟑. 𝟏𝟒.

Inverse Variation
Example 3. If 𝑛 varies inversely as 𝑚, and 𝑛 = 15 when 𝑚 = 3, find 𝑛 when 𝑚 = 10.
SOLUTION:
Write the equation involving 𝑚 and 𝑛. 𝑘
𝑛=
𝑚
Substitute the given values in the equation. 𝑘
5=
3
Solve for 𝑘. 15 = 𝑘
Substitute 𝑘 = 15 in the equation. 15
𝑛=
𝑚
Solve for 𝑦 if 𝑥 = 5. 15
𝑛=
10
3
𝑛=
2

Example 4. The measure of the central angle and the number of sides of regular polygons
are tabulated below.
number of sides 𝑛 4 5 6 8 9 10 12

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 central angle 𝜃 90° 72° 60° 45° 40° 36° 30°
Solve for the constant of variation.
SOLUTION:
By observation, as the number of sides increases, the measure of the central angle
decreases. Thus, the number of sides of regular polygon 𝑛 varies inversely as the cemtral
angle 𝜃.
𝑘
𝜃=
𝑛
If 𝑛 = 4, when 𝜃 = 90°,
𝑘
90° =
4
𝒌 = 𝟑𝟔𝟎°

If 𝑛 = 5, when 𝜃 = 72°,
𝑘
72° =
5
𝒌 = 𝟑𝟔𝟎°
The same value is obtained for 𝐷 = 6, 8, 9, 10, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 12. Thus, the constant of variation is
𝒌 = 𝟑𝟔𝟎°.

Joint Variation
Example 5. If 𝑦 varies jointly as 𝑥 and 𝑧, and 𝑦 = 6 when 𝑥 = 10 and 𝑧 = 8, find 𝑦 when
𝑥 = 4 and 𝑧 = 40.
SOLUTION:
Write the equation involving 𝑚 and 𝑛. 𝑦 = 𝑘𝑥𝑧
Substitute the given values in the equation. 6 = 𝑘(10)(8)
Solve for 𝑘. 6
=𝑘
80
3
=𝑘
40
3 3
Substitute 𝑘 = in the equation. 𝑦= 𝑥𝑧
40
40
Solve for 𝑦 if 𝑥 = 4 and 𝑧 = 40. 3
𝑦= (4)(40)
40
𝑦 = 12

Combined Variation
Example 6. The variable 𝑎 varies directly as the product of 𝑏 and 𝑐, and inversely as the
square of 𝑑.
If 𝑎 = 0.9, when 𝑏 = 0.6, 𝑐 = 2.7, and 𝑑 = 0.3, find the value of 𝑎 when 𝑏 = 0.4, 𝑐 = 0.7,
and 𝑑 = 0.2.
SOLUTION:
Write the equation involving 𝑚 and 𝑛. 𝑏𝑐
𝑎=𝑘 2
𝑑

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 Substitute the given values in the equation. (0.6)(2.7)
0.9 = 𝑘
(0.3)2
Solve for 𝑘. (0.9)(0.3)2
𝑘=
(0.6)(2.7)
𝑘 = 0.05
Substitute 𝑘 = 0.5 in the equation. 𝑏𝑐
𝑎 = (0.05) 2
𝑑
Solve for 𝑎 if 𝑏 = 0.4, 𝑐 = 0.7, and 𝑑 = 0.2. (0.4)(0.7)
𝑎 = (0.05)
(0.2)2
(0.05)(0.28)
𝑎=
(0.04)
𝑎=

Learn More
Here’s a tutorial video from YouTube about the concept and examples of direct, inverse,
joint, and combined variation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMzCEcsd09o
Expand your Knowledge
Let’s ponder on the following questions.
1) What are the differences of direct, indirect, joint, and combined variation?
2) State some real-life situations that represent (a) direct variation, (b) inverse
variation, (c) joint variation, and (d) combined variation.

Test Yourself
A. Tell whether each relation represents direct, inverse, joint or combined variation.
1) 𝐶 = 𝑘𝑑
2) 𝐴 = 𝑘𝑏ℎ
𝑘
3) 𝑉 =
𝑃
𝑘𝑡𝑢
4) 𝑠 =
𝑣
5) 𝑃 = 𝑘𝑛
6) 𝑂 varies jointly with 𝑃 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑄, and inversely as 𝑅
7)
x 1 2 3 4 5 6
y 3 6 9 12 15 18
8)
x 1 2 3 4 5
y 50 40 30 20 10

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 9)

10)

B. Solve each problem.

1) If 𝑧 varies jointly as 𝑥 and 𝑦, and 𝑧 = 6 when 𝑥 = 4 and 𝑦 = 10 find 𝑧 when 𝑥 = 20 and
𝑦 = 8.
2) 𝑦 is directly proportional to 𝑥. If 𝑦 = 15 when 𝑥 = 3, find 𝑦 when 𝑥 = 7.
3) 𝐴 varies directly as the product of 𝐵 and 𝐶, and inversely as 𝐷. If 𝐴 = 10, 𝐵 = 4, 𝐶 =
2, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐷 = 4, find 𝐴 if 𝐵 = 3, 𝐶 = 4, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐷 = 6.
4) If 𝑝 varies inversely as 𝑞, and 𝑝 = 8 when 𝑞 = 2, find 𝑝 when 𝑞 = 4.

References:
Diaz, Zenaida et al. (2014). Next Century Mathematics (The New Grade 9). Phoenix
Publishing House, Inc., 927 Quezon Ave., Quezon City.
www.youtube.com

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