Challenge:

The distance that a car can travel varies directly with the number of liters of a gasoline in a
tank. If a car can go 120km on 15 liters of gas, how far can it go on 9 liters?
Let x = number of liters of a gasoline
y = distance that a car can travel
y =kx
120 = 15 k Substitute the values
120 / 15= k
8=k Solve for k.
Therefore, k= 8 the equation of the problem is y = 8x.
y = 8 (9) Substitute 9 for x.
y = 72 Solve for y.

So, the car can travel 72km with 9 liters of gasoline.

Chapter 3 - Lesson 2:
INVERSE VARIATION
INVERSE VARIATION–involving x and y, you have
y=k/x, where k is a nonzero constant, and x, y≠0.
The constant (k), which can be any nonzero real number,
is called the constant of variation.

In a inverse variation, the equation is y = , where k is a

nonzero constant.
Note that in an inverse variation:
 k is a constant called the constant variation;
 y varies inversely with x; or
 y is inversely proportional to x.
EXAMPLES:
1. Given that y varies inversely with x, and that y = 7 when x = 10, find the following:
a. Constant variation
b. Equation that relates x and y
c. Value of y when x = 14
Because y varies directly with x, its equation is of the form y = .
a. First find the value of (k) constant variation.
Substitute the values.
Solve for k. k = 70
Therefore, the value of (k) constant variation is 70.
b. This is the equation of variation
c. Substitute 14 for values of x.
y=5 Solve for x. Thus, the value of y = 5, when x = 14.
EXAMPLES:
2. If y varies inversely as x, and y = 6 when x=, then what is y when x=
y= Substitute the values. 6= (6)()=k
24/3=k Solve for k
8=k Therefore, the value of the constant variation(k) is 8.
y= This is the equation for variation
y= Substitute 1/2 for x and solve for y
y = 16

Thus, the value of y = 16 when x = 1/2.

 EXAMPLES:
3. If y varies inversely as x, and y = 10 when x = 6, then what is y when x = 15?
y=
10 =
(10)(6) = k
60 = k Therefore, the value of k = 60.

y= =y=
y=
y=4

Thus, the value of y = 4 when x = 15.

 EXAMPLES:
4. If y varies inversely as x, and y = when x = 18, find y when x = 2.
y=
= Substitute the values.
18/3=k Solve for k
6=k Therefore, the value of the constant variation(k) is 6.

y= This is the equation for variation

y= Substitute 2 for x and solve for y.
y=3
Thus, the value of y = 3 when x = 2.
 EXAMPLES:
5. A car is travelling a distance of 120km. How long will it take the car to reach its
destination if it travels at a speed (r) of 20kph?
Since
Let us solve for time (t) by substituting the given values;
t= 6
Therefore, the car will reach its destination after 6 hrs. if the speed is 20 kph

How long will it take the car to reach its destination if it travels at a speed (r) of 40kph?
60kph? 80kph?
t= 3 hrs.
t= 2 hrs.
Rate (kph) 20 40 60 80
Time (hr) 6 3 2 1.5
 EXAMPLES:
6. A crew of 12 can build a hut in 8 days. How long would it take a crew of 4 to build the
same hut?
Let x = the number of crew
y = number of days can build a hut
y=
8= Substitute the values
(8) (12)= k
96 = k Solve for k.
Therefore, k= 96 the equation of the problem is y = .
y= Substitute 4 for x.
y= Solve for y.
y=24 So, it will take 24 days for a crew of 4 to build a hut.
 MIND EXERCISES
y varies inversely as x
DIRECTIONS: Solve the following. Find the equation of variation in which y
varies inversely as x, and solve y based on the given conditions exist.

1. When x =3, y = 2. Find y when x = 8.

2. When x = 15, y = 4. Find y when x = 12.
3. When x = 2, y = 1/2. Find y when x = 1/8.
4. When x = 2/3, y = 1/2. Find y when x = 2.
5. When x = 12, y = 3. Find y when x = 3.
DIRECTIONS: Solve the following. Find the equation of variation in which y
varies inversely as x, and solve y based on the given conditions exist.
SOLUTIONS:

1. When x =3, y = 2. Find y when x = 8.

y=
= Substitute the values.
6=k Therefore, the value of the constant variation(k) is 6.

y= This is the equation for variation

y= Substitute 8 for x and solve for y.
y=
Thus, the value of y = when x = 8.
DIRECTIONS: Solve the following. Find the equation of variation in which y varies
inversely as x, and solve y based on the given conditions exist.
SOLUTIONS:
2. When x = 15, y = 4. Find y when x = 12.
y=
= Substitute the values.
(4)(15) = k
60 = k Therefore, the value of the constant variation(k) is 60.

y= This is the equation for variation

y= Substitute 12 for x and solve for y.
y=
Thus, the value of y = when x = 12.
DIRECTIONS: Solve the following. Find the equation of variation in which y varies
inversely as x, and solve y based on the given conditions exist.
SOLUTIONS:
3. When x = 2, y = 1/2. Find y when x = 1/8.
y=
= Substitute the values.
2= 2k
1=k Therefore, the value of the constant variation(k) is 1.

y= This is the equation for variation

y= Substitute for x and solve for y.
y=
Thus, the value of y = when x =.
DIRECTIONS: Solve the following. Find the equation of variation in which y varies
inversely as x, and solve y based on the given conditions exist.
SOLUTIONS:
4. When x = 2/3, y = 1/2. Find y when x = 2.
y=
= Substitute the values.
= 2k
=k Therefore, the value of the constant variation(k) is 1/3.

y= This is the equation for variation

y= Substitute 2 for x and solve for y.
y= Thus, the value of y = when x =.
DIRECTIONS: Solve the following. Find the equation of variation in which y varies
inversely as x, and solve y based on the given conditions exist.
SOLUTIONS:

5. When x = 12, y = 3. Find y when x = 3.

y=
= Substitute the values.
36 = k Therefore, the value of the constant variation(k) is 36.

y= This is the equation for variation

y= Substitute 3 for x and solve for y.
y = 12
Thus, the value of y = when x = 3.
 Challenge:
The number of days bag of bread lasts varies inversely as the number of people who consume
it. If a bag of bread lasts three days for six people, how long will it lasts for two people?
Let x = number of people
y = number of days
y=
3= Substitute the values
(3)(6)= k
18 = k Solve for k.
Therefore, k= 18 the equation of the problem is y = .
y= Substitute 2 for x.
y = =9 Thus, a bag of bread lasts 9 days for two people.
The End
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