INVERSE
VARIATION
Learning Objectives:
1. Define inverse and joint variations.
2. Solve inverse and joint variations.
3. Solve word problems involving inverse and joint variations.
Inverse variation is a relationship between two quantities or variables such
that when one variable increases, the other variable decreases proportionally.
Given two variables x and y and a constant k, y varies inversely with x if xy
is equal to k. In symbols, , where k is the constant of variation. The constant
of variation is determined by the formula k = xy.
An inverse variation can be determined from a table of values, a graph, or
an equation.
Example 1: Determine if the graph, table of values, and the equation illustrate
an inverse variation. If so, find an equation for the inverse variation and
translate the relationship between x and y into a variation statement.
a.
Solution: First, determine some points on the graph and construct the
table of values.
x 2 3 4 6
y 6 4 3 2
Then, compute the constant of variation k for any corresponding values
of x and y using the formula k = xy.
If x = 2 and y = 6: If x = 3 and y = 4: If x = 6 and y = 2:
k = xy k = xy k = xy
k = 2(6) k = 3(4) k = 6(2)
k = 12 k = 12 k = 12
Note that the value of k is constant for any corresponding values of x and
y. Therefore, it can be concluded that y varies inversely with x. The
constant of variation is 12 and the equation for the given inverse variation
is
b. x 2 4 6 8
y 9 4.5 3 2.25
Solution: To determine whether the given table of values describes an
inverse variation, get the product of the corresponding values of x and y.
x 2 4 6 8
y 9 4.5 3 2.25
xy 18 18 18 18
Observe that the product of any pair of x- and y- values is a constant,
which is 18. Hence, the table of values illustrates an inverse variation
defined by the equation The constant of variation is 18.
c.
Solution:
Observe that the equation is of the form which is the form of the
equation of an inverse variation. From the given equation, the constant of
variation is 30. This means that for any values of x and y, their product is
30. Thus, the equation illustrates an inverse variation.
Activity 1:
Prove that the given table of values illustrates an inverse variation.
Determine also the corresponding equation.
x 3 6 9
y
y
Example 2: According to Boyle’s law, the volume V of a gas varies
inversely with pressure P at a constant temperature T. If the volume of a gas
is 350 when the pressure is 40 pounds per square inch (psi), find the
volume of the gas when the pressure is 105 psi. round your answer to the
nearest whole number.
Solution: The equation is . Substitute V = 350 and P = 40 into the equation,
then solve for T.
T = 350(40)
T = 14, 000
The equation becomes . Solve for V when P = 105.
V = 133.22 or 133
The volume of the gas when the pressure is 105 psi is approximately
equal to 133
If a quantity y varies directly with product of two quantities x andz at a
constant rate k, that is, y = kxz, then y varies jointly with x and z. the
constant of variation k is determined by the formula
We say that y varies directly with the product of x and z if the ratio
between y and the product of x and z is constant. Thus, if k is the constant of
variation, then for all the values of the variables x, y, and z. Equivalently, y =
kxz. This is the equation for joint variation.
Joint variation is a relationship where one quantity increases (or
decreases) proportionally as the product of two other quantities increases (or
decreases).
Example 3: Determine an equation that relates the variable c to the
variables a and b. Translate the relationship of the variables a, b, and c
into a variation statement.
a 2 3 4 5
b 4 6 8 10
c 4 9 16 25
Solution: Observe from the table of values that the value of c is half the
product of a and b.
Therefore, the equation that determines the value of c is . Thus, we say
that c varies directly with the product of a and b, where the constant of
variation is ½.
Activity 2: Determine an equation that relates z to the variables x and
y. Translate the relationship of the three variables into a variation
statement.
x 2 4 6
y 3 6 9
z 12 48 108
Example 4: The variable y varies jointly with x and z, and y = 10 when x =
5 and z = 8.
a. Find the constant of variation.
b. Determine an equation that relates x, y, and z.
c. Find the value of x when y = 18 and z = 24.
Solution:
d. y = kxz
10 = k(5)(8)
10 = 40k
b. The equation that relates x, y, and z is .
c. Solve for the value of x when y = 18 and z = 24.
18 = 6x
=3
Example 5: The area of a triangle varies jointly with its base and height.
a. What is the constant of variation?
b. If the area of the triangle is 12 when the base b is two more than the
height h, find the measures of the base and height.
Solution:
a. Because the area of a triangle is determined by half the product of its base
and height, then A =. The constant of variation is .
b. Let x = height of the triangle
x + 2 = base of the triangle
Because A =, then
12 =
12 =
24 =
0 = – 24
Since the height of a triangle cannot be
0 = (x + 6)(x – 4)
negative, then x = 4. Therefore, the
height of the triangle is 4 cm and its
x = -6 or x = 4
base is 6 cm.
Assignment No. 1
The variable x varies jointly with y and the square of z, and x =
225 when y = 6 and z = 5. Which of the following values of x, y, and
z satisfy the equation that relates these variables? Show your solution.
a. x = 48, y = 4, z = 8
b. x = 47.25, y = 7/2, z = 3
c. x = 240, y = 10, z = 4
d. x = 468, y = 12, z = 6
