Index

01

EXAMPLE OF 02
INVERSE
VARIATION 03

04

05
 Index

EXAMPLE 16 01
It is given that the time needed,t to assemble a piece of furniture varies inversely as the
number of workers,x.The table below shows the relation between x and t.

02
Number of workers,x 2 3 4 5 6

Time needed,t (minutes) 180 120 90 72 60 03

By calculating the values of xt and x²t, determine wheteher t varies

inversely as x or x².Hence,write the relation by using the symbol ∝. 04

05
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SOLUTION :
01
x 2 3 4 5 6

t 180 120 90 72 60
02
xt 2(180)=360 3(120) = 360 4(90) = 360 5(72) = 360 6(60) = 360

x²t 2² (180) = 720 3² (120) = 1080 4² (90) = 1440 5² (72) = 1080 6² (60) = 2160

 The
03
value of xt is a constant,whereas the value of x²t is not a
constant.Hence,t varies inversely as x,that is t ∝
04

05
 Index

EXAMPLE 17
01
Two quantities,x and y,vary based on the table below.By using a
suitable scale,draw the graph of y against and show that y varies
 
inversely as x. 02

03

04

05
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SOLUTION :
0.5 0.25 0.2 0.1 01
y 8 4 3.2 1.6

02

03

04

The graph of y against shows a straight line that starts

 from the origin.Hence,y varies inversely as x. 05
 Index
EXAMPLE 18

It is given that x = 0.25 when y = 3. Express y in terms of x if 01

a) y varies inversely as x,
b) y varies inversely as the square root of x.
SOLUTION : 02
 b) y
a) y ∝
 
  y=  y 03

 3 =  3

04
k = 3(0.25)  k = 3(
= 0.75 = 1.5

  Hence,y =
  Hence,y =
05
 Index

EXAMPLE 19
01
The force of gravity,F,varies inversely as the square of the distance
between two objects,d.Its is given that the force of gravity between
two objects is 15 N when the distance between them is 12cm.Write 02
an expression of F in terms of d.
 
SOLUTIONF: 03
 F

 15 04
= 21.6
  Hence,F =
05
 Index

EXAMPLE 20

01
Its is given that p varies inversely as q. If p = 2 when q = 7, calculate
the value of p when q = 1.6.
SOLUTION : 02
 p  Hence, p=

 p When q = 1.6,
03

 p
 2
04
K = 2(7) = 8.75
= 14 05
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01

ALTERNATIVE METHOD :
02

 Using the concept of proportion : 03

Given that =

 2 x 7 = x 1.6

 
= 04

= 8.75
05
 HOW TO SOLVE PROBLEM
Index
SOLVING INVOLVING INVERSE
VARIATION
01
EXAMPLE 21 :

 According to Boyle’s Law,the gas pressure,p, of a mass of gas is inversely

02
propotional to the volume of the gas,V, if the temperature of the gas is
fixed.The diagram below shows the gas trapped in a cylinder.When the
volume inside the cylinder is the gas pressure is 190.26 kPa. Calculate the
volume of the gas in , when the gas pressure inside the cylinder is 121.76 03
kPa.

04

05
 p is inversely propotional to V
  When V = 80
p = 190.25 kPa
 Determine the relationship between p and V in the form
of equation.Hence,calculate the value of V when p =
 121.76
When kPa
p = 121.76 kPa,
V = 80
  p
k = 190.25 x 80  121.76 =
  p = 15
  V=
  220
Hence, p =
When V = 80, p = 190.25,
  190.25 =  = 125
When, p =