VARIATION

1 y varies directly with x.

If y = 6 when x = 3, find y when x = 2.

y x

y  kx substitute y = 6 and x = 3 into the formula

6  3k solve to find k

k2 put k = 2 into the formula y = kx

y  2x This is the formula connecting y and x.

y  22

y4
2 y varies directly with x.
If y = 15 when x = 2.5, find x when y = 3.

y x

y  kx substitute y = 15 and x = 2.5 into the formula

15  2.5k solve to find k

k6 put k = 6 into the formula y = kx

y  6x This is the formula connecting y and x.

36x

x  0.5
3 y varies directly with the square of x.
If y = 48 when x = 4, find x when y = 12.

y  x2

y  kx 2 substitute y = 48 and x = 4 into the formula

48  16k solve to find k

k 3 put k = 3 into the formula y = kx2

y  3x 2 This is the formula connecting y and x.

12  3  x 2

x2
4 y varies inversely with x.
If y = 2 when x = 3, find y when x = 5.

1
y
x
k substitute y = 2 and x = 3 into the formula
y
x
k solve to find k
2
3
k
k6 put k = 6 into the formula y
x
6
y This is the formula connecting y and x.
x
6
y
5
y  1.2
5 y varies inversely with the square root of x.
If y = 6 when x = 4, find y when x = 36.

1
y
x
k
y substitute y = 6 and x = 4 into the formula
x
k
6 solve to find k
4
k
k  12 put k = 12 into the formula y 
x
12
y This is the formula connecting y and x.
x
12
y
36
y2