Direct & Inverse Variation

Problems.
Example 1.

If W varies directly with F and when W = 24 , F = 6 . Find the

value W when F = 10.

Solution. W  4 F
W  F When F = 10 W = ?
W  kF W  4 10
When W = 24, F = 6
W  40
 24  k 6
k 6  24
k4
Example 2.

If g varies directly with the square of h and when g = 100 ,

h = 5 . Find the value h when g = 64.
Solution.
g  4h 2

g h 2
When g = 64 , h = ?
g  kh 2
64  4h 2
When g = 100 , h = 5 4h 2  64
100  k 25 h  16
2

k 25  100 h  16
k4 h = 4 or h = - 4
Example 3.

If d varies inversely with w and when d = 3 , w = 9 . Find

the value d when w = 3.
Solution. 27
d
1 w
d
w When w = 3 d = ?
k 27
d
w d
3
When d = 3 , w = 9
k d=9
3
9
k = 27
Example 4 .
If r varies inversely with the square root of f and when
r = 32 , f = 16. Find f when r = 32.

Solution. 128
r
1 f
r
f When r = 32 , f = ?
k 128
32 
r f
f
32 f  128
When r = 32 , f= 16.
k 128
32  f 
32
16

32 
k f 4
4
f  16
k = 128
Example 5 .
If t varies jointly with m and b and t = 80 when m=2
and b = 5. Find t when m = 5 and b = 8 .

Solution. t  8mb
t  mb When m = 5 , b = 8 , t = ?
t  kmb
t  8 5 8
When t = 80 , m = 2 and b = 5 t  320
80  k  2  5
10k  80
k8
 Example 6 .
c varies directly with the square of m and inversely with w.
c = 9 when m = 6 and w = 2 . Find c when m = 10 and
w=4.

36k 9
Solution. 
m2 2 1
c K=½
w
km 2 m2
c
w
c
2w
When c = 9 , m = 6 and w = 2 When m = 10 , w = 4
and c = ?
k 62
9 10 2
2 c =12.5
2 4
 Examination Questions.
Example 1.
The time,T minutes ,taken for a stadium to empty varies
directly as the number of spectators , S, and inversely
as the number of open exits, E.
(a) Write down a relationship connecting T,S and E.

It takes 12 minutes for a stadium to empty when there are

20 000 spectators and 20 open exits.

(b) How long does it take the stadium to empty when there
are 36 000 spectators and 24 open exits ?
Solution. 6S
T
(a) T S 500 E
E
KS Now S = 36 000
T and E = 24 .
E
K is the constant of variation. Substitute.
(b) T = 12 , S = 20 000 and E = 20 6  36000
T
Substitute to find the value of K. 500  24
12 K 20000 Cross multiply.
 T = 18 minutes
1 20

20 000 K = 20 x 12
240 6
K 
20000 500
Example 2.
The number of letters, N , which can be typed on a sheet
of paper varies inversely as the square of the size, S , of
the letters used.
(a) Write down a relationship connecting N and S .
(b) The size of the letters used is doubled.
What effect does this have on the number of letters which

can be typed on the sheet of paper ?

Solution. (b) Letter size = 2S
(a) 1 K By doubling the
N 2 N 
(2 S )2
S size of letters
K the number of
K N letters is
N 2 4S 2
S quartered.
Example 3.
A frictional force is necessary for a car to round a bend.
The frictional force , F kilonewtons , varies directly as the
square of the car’s speed , V metres per second, and inversely
as the radius of the bend, R metres.

(a) Write down a relationship between F, V and R.

A frictional force of 20 kilonewtons is necessary for
a car , travelling at a given speed , to round a bend.

(b) Find the frictional force necessary for the same

car , travelling at twice the given speed , to round the
same bend.
Solution.
4 KV 2
F
(a) V2 R
F
R
KV 2 By doubling the speed
F the frictional force F
R required to round the
bend becomes 4 times
greater.
(b) Let the speed = 2V

K ( 2V ) 2 F = 4 x 20 = 80
F 
R
K 4V 2
F 
R