PROBLEMS

INVOLVING
VARIATIONS
 DIRECT
VARIATION
If y varies directly with x, then
y=kx where k is the constant of
variation.
If a varies directly with b

EQUATION:
a=kb
WORKED EXAMPLE 1:
Suppose y varies directly with x and y=12 and x=4.
Step 1. Find the value of y when x=7.

Step 2: solve for y. substitute x=7 and k=3

y=kx
y=(3)(7)
y=21
WORKED EXAMPLE 1:
Suppose y varies directly with x and y=12 and
x=4. Find the value of y when x=7.

Solve for k.
WORKED EXAMPLE 1:
Suppose y varies directly with x and y=12 and x=4. Find
the value of y when x=7.

Solve for k.
y=kx
12=k(4)
12=4k
3=k
WORKED EXAMPLE 1:
Suppose y varies directly with x and y=12 and
x=4. Find the value of y when x=7.

Solve for y. Substitute x=7 and k=3

WORKED EXAMPLE 1:
Suppose y varies directly with x and y=12 and x=4. Find the
value of y when x=7.

Solve for y. Substitute x=7 and k=3

y=kx
y=3(7)
y=21
Solve for q. Substitute p=18 and k=2
p=k
18=(2)(
18=2

9=
WORKED EXAMPLE 2:
Suppose p varies directly with square of q and p=8 and
q=2. Find the value of q when p=18.

Solve for k.
WORKED EXAMPLE 2:
Suppose p varies directly with square of q and
p=8 and q=2. Find the value of q when p=18.

: Solve for k.
p=k
8=k()
8=4k
2=k
WORKED EXAMPLE 2:
Suppose p varies directly with square of q and
p=8 and q=2. Find the value of q when p=18.

STEP 2: Solve for q. Substitute p=18 and

k=2
p=k
18=2
9=

3=q
Given that y varies directly with x, complete the
table

x 4 5 7 24 28.5
y 8 10 14 48 57
y=kx y=kx y=kx y=kx y=kx
10=k(5) y=2(4) y=(2)(7) 48=2x 57=2x
10=5k y=8 y=14 24=x 28.5=x
2=k
If 𝑝 varies directly the square root 𝑟 and 𝑝=6 when 𝑟=9, find
𝑟 when 𝑝=5.
STEP 2: Solve for r. substitute p=5 and k=2.
p=k
5=2
2.5=

6.25=r
 INVERSE
VARIATION
If y varies inversely with x, then
y= where k is the constant of
variation.
If g varies inversely with the
square of h.

EQUATION:
g=
WORKED EXAMPLE:
Suppose y varies inversely with x and y=5 and x=2. Find the
value of y when x=8.
WORKED EXAMPLE:
Suppose y varies inversely with x and y=5 and
x=2. Find the value of y when x=8.

STEP 1: Solve for k.

WORKED EXAMPLE:
Suppose y varies inversely with x and y=5 and x=2. Find the
value of y when x=8.

Solve for k.
y=
WORKED EXAMPLE:
Suppose y varies inversely with x and y=5 and x=2. Find
the value of y when x=8.

Solve for k.
y=
5=
5(2)=k
10=k
WORKED EXAMPLE:
Suppose y varies inversely with x and y=5 and
x=2. Find the value of y when x=8.
Solve for y. Substitute x=8 and k=10
y=
y=
y=
WORKED EXAMPLE:
If h varies inversely with the square of t and h=2
when t=3, find the value of t when h=6

STEP 1: Solve for k.

WORKED EXAMPLE:
If h varies inversely with the square of t and h=2 when
t=3, find the value of t when h=6
Solve for t. Substitute h=6 and k=18.
h=
6=
6

t=
If y is inversely proportional to x and y=5 when x=2, find
the value of y when x=8.

STEP 1: Solve for k.

y=
5=
10=k
If y is inversely proportional to x and y=5 when
x=2, find the value of y when x=8.

STEP 2: Solve for y. Substitute x=8 and

k=10.
y=
y=
y=
If y is inversely proportional to x and y=9 when
x=2, find the value of y when x=3.

Solve for k.
y=
9=
18=k
If y is inversely proportional to x and y=9 when
x=2, find the value of y when x=3.

STEP 2: Solve for y. Substitute x=3 and

k=18.
y=
y=
y=6
Given that y varies inversely proportional to x,
complete the table

x 0.5 1 2 3 5
y 8 4 2 1.33 0.8
y y 2 y y
y 0.8=
y= 4= 4=k y=1.33 0.8x=4
y=8 4x=4 X=5
X=1
Step 2: Solve for q. Substitute p=48 and k=12
p=
48=
48=12
=
=

q=
 JOINT
VARIATION
If z varies directly with x and y,
then z=kxy where k is the
constant of variation.
p varies directly with q and the
cube of r.

EQUATION:
p=kq
If a varies directly with b and c

EQUATION:
a=kbc
What is the variation statement
of the equation
p=kba
p varies directly with b and a
WORKED EXAMPLE:
If z varies directly with x and the square of y and z=36 when
x=2 and y=3, find the value of z when x=3 and y=5.
Solve for k
z=kx
36=k(2)(
36=k(2)(9)
36=18k

2=k
WORKED EXAMPLE:
If z varies directly with x and the square of y and z=36 when
x=2 and y=3, find the value of z when x=3 and y=5.
Step 2: Solve for z. Substitute x=3, y=5 and k=2
z=kx
z=(2)(3)(
z=6(25)
z=150
f varies jointly with d and e. If f=45 when d=15 and e=14, find f
when d=21 and e=8.
step 1: Solve for k
f=kde
45=k(15)(14)
45=210k

0.21=k
f varies jointly with d and e. If f=45 when d=15 and e=14, find f
when d=21 and e=8.
Step 2: Solve for f. Substitute d=21, e=8 and k=0.21
f=kde
f=(0.21)(21)(8)
f=35.28
If z varies jointly with the square of x and cube of y and z=28
when x=2 and y=3. Find the value of x when z=100 and y=2.
Solve for k.
z=k
28=k(
28=k(4)(27)
28=108k

0.26=k
If z varies jointly with the square of x and cube of y and z=28 when x=2 and y=3. Find the value of x when z=100
and y=2.
Step 2: Solve for x. Substitute z=100, y=2 and k=0.26
z=k
100=(0.26)()(
100=(0.26)()(8)
100=2.08

48.08=
COMBINED
VARIATION
If z varies directly with x and
inversely with y, then z= where k
is the constant of variation.
If a varies directly with b and
inversely with c

EQUATION:
a=
If x varies directly with the
square of b and inversely with
cube of c

EQUATION:
x=
h varies directly with the square
of g and inversely with the cube
of f

EQUATION:
h=
What is the variation statement
of the equation
r=
r varies directly with the square of p
and inversely with q
What is the variation statement
of the equation
a=
a varies directly with the square
of b and inversely with c
WORKED EXAMPLE:
If p varies directly with r and inversely with q and p=4 when r=2 and y=3, find r when
p=10 and q=8.
Solve for k
p=
4=
12= 2k
6=k
WORKED EXAMPLE:
If p varies directly with r and inversely with q and p=4 when r=2 and y=3, find r
when p=10 and q=8.
Step 2: Solve for r. Substitute p=10, q=8 and k=6
p=
10=
80=6r

13.3=r
Page 16, number 4
if p varies directly with the square of q and inversely with r and
p= when q=2 and r=16, find the value of r when p=6 and q=3.
Step 1: Solve for k
p=
16= 2(k)(4)
16=8k
2=k
Step 2: solve for r. Substitute p=6, q=3 and k=2.
p=
6=
6=
6=
6r=18
r=3
x varies directly with the square
root of a and inversely with the
square of b
EQUATION:
x=
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