Lesson 16: Problem Solving on Variation

&
Lesson 17: Laws of Exponents
Learning Competency
The learner will be able to:
a) solve problems involving variation; and
b) apply the laws involving positive integral exponents to zero and negative integral
exponents.

Prepare Yourself
Your skill in recognizing patterns and knowledge in formulating equations helped you in
answering questions from the previous activities. This time, we’ll use those skills to solve
problems involving variation.

Problem Solving on Variation

Steps in Solving Variation Problems
Step 1: Set up the formula.
Step 2: Solve for the constant of variation, k, using the first set of data given.
Step 3: Using the same formula and the constant k, find the missing in the problem.

Illustrative Examples
Example 1. If 12 flowerpots cost Php 156, how much do 28 flowerpots cost?
SOLUTION:
Step 1: Set up the formula. 𝑐 = 𝑘𝑓
Direct Variation – more flowerpots result in higher cost
Let c be the cost and f be the number of flowerpots.
Step 2: Solve for the constant of variation, k, using the first set of 156 = 𝑘(12)
data given. 156
=𝑘
12
13 = 𝑘
Step 3: Using the same formula and the constant k, find the 𝑐 = 𝑘𝑓
missing in the problem. 𝑐 = 13(28)
𝑐 = 364
Therefore, 28 flowerpots cost Php 364.

Example 2. The time (t) required to clean a classroom varies inversely to the number of
students (n) cleaning. If 7 students can clean the room in 40 minutes, in how many
minutes can 10 students clean the room?
Step 1: Set up the formula. 𝑘
Inverse Variation – time required to clean varies inversely with 𝑡 =
𝑛
the number of students cleaning
Let t be the time to clean and n be the number of students
cleaning.

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 Step 2: Solve for the constant of variation, k, using the first set of 𝑘
data given. 40 =
7
280 = 𝑘

Step 3: Using the same formula and the constant k, find the 280
missing in the problem. 𝑡=
10
𝑡 = 28
Hence, it will take 28 minutes for 10 students to clean the room.

Example 3. The area of a rectangle varies jointly as the length and the width, and whose 𝐴 =
72 sq. cm when 𝑙 = 12 cm and 𝑤 = 2 cm. Find the area of the rectangle whose length is 15 cm
and whose width is 3 cm.
SOLUTION:
Step 1: Set up the formula. 𝐴 = 𝑘𝑙𝑤
Joint Variation – area varies jointly as the length and the width
Let A be the area of rectangle, l be the length and w be the
width.
Step 2: Solve for the constant of variation, k, using the first set of 72 = 𝑘(12)(2)
data given. 72 = 24𝑘
3=𝑘

Step 3: Using the same formula and the constant k, find the 𝐴 = 𝑘𝑙𝑤
missing in the problem. 𝐴 = (3)(15)(3)
𝐴 = 135
Hence, 𝐴 = 135 sq.cm when 𝑙 = 15 and 𝑤 = 3.

Example 4. The number of minutes needed to solve an exercise set of variation problems varies
directly as the number of problems and inversely as the number of students working on the
solutions. It takes 36 minutes for 4 students to solve 18 problems. How many minutes will it take
6 students to solve 42 problems.
SOLUTION:
Step 1: Set up the formula. 𝑘𝑝
Combined Variation – minutes needed to solve an exercise set of 𝑚=
𝑠
variation problems varies directly as the number of problems and
inversely as the number of students working on the solutions

Let m be the number of minutes

s be the number of students
p be the number of problems
Step 2: Solve for the constant of variation, k, using the first set of 𝑘(18)
data given. 36 =
4
144 = 18𝑘
8=𝑘
Step 3: Using the same formula and the constant k, find the 𝑘𝑝
missing in the problem. 𝑚=
𝑠

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 8
8(42)
𝑚=
6
𝑚 = 56
Thus, it will take 56 minutes for 6 students to solve 42 problems.

Laws of Exponents
Illustrative Examples
1st Law 1) 𝑚5 • 𝑚7 = 𝑚5+7 = 𝑚12
𝑎𝑚 • 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚+𝑛
2) 33 • 3 = 33+1 = 34 = 81
2nd Law 3) (𝑛4 )5 = 𝑛(4)(5) = 𝑛20
(𝑎𝑚 )𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚𝑛
4) (42 )2 = 4(2)(2) = 44 = 256
3rd Law 5) (𝑥𝑦)5 = 𝑥 5 𝑦 5
(𝑎𝑏)𝑚 = 𝑎𝑚 𝑏𝑚
6) (3𝑥𝑦 2 )4 = 34 𝑥 4 𝑦 (2)(4) = 81𝑥 4 𝑦 8
4th Law 𝑎𝑚 𝑥 10
= 𝑎𝑚−𝑛 7) 𝑥6
= 𝑥 10−6 = 𝑥 4
𝑎𝑛
5th Law 2 2
3𝑚5𝑛 (3𝑚5𝑛)
8) ( ) = (2𝑚)2
𝑚
2𝑚
𝑎 𝑚 𝑎 9𝑚10𝑛2
( ) = 𝑚 =
𝑏 𝑏 4𝑚2
9𝑚8 𝑛2
=
4
Zero Exponent 9) 7𝑥 0 = 7(1) = 7
𝑎0 = 1
10) (7𝑥 )0 = 70 𝑥 0 = 1 • 1 = 1
Negative Exponent 1
11) 𝑥 −2 = 𝑥 2
1 1
1 12) (2−2 )3 = 2−6 = 26 = 64
𝑎−𝑛 = 𝑛
𝑎 13) (3−2 )−3 = 3(−2)(−3) = 36 = 729
3 −4 3−4 24 16
14) ( ) = 2−4 = 34 = 81
2

Learn More
You may also browse your books, Soaring 21st Century Mathematics 9, on pp. 170-190
with discussions and illustrative examples of direct and inverse variation.
For a review on the laws of exponents, you may read and study between pp. 2-7.

Expand your Knowledge

Wrapping up, please answer the following questions.
1) What are the steps in solving word problems on variations?
2) Discuss the similarities and differences of the four types of variation: (a) direct
variation, (b) inverse variation, (c) joint variation, and (d) combined variation.
3) How do we apply each of the laws of exponents?

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Test Yourself
A. Is this real?

B. Make me simple!
Simplify the following:
1. (𝑥 3 )5
2. (2𝑥 2 𝑦 3 )2
2𝑥 2
3. (𝑦3 )
4. 𝑥 3 𝑥 −4 𝑦 0
5. (𝑥 −1 𝑦 3 )−2

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References:
Diaz, Zenaida et al. (2014). Next Century Mathematics (The New Grade 9). Phoenix
Publishing House, Inc., 927 Quezon Ave., Quezon City.
Chua, Simon et al. (2018). Soaring 21st Century Mathematics 9. Phoenix Publishing
House, Inc., 927 Quezon Ave., Quezon City.
www.deped.gov.ph

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