College Mathematics Notes

Chapter 2: Algebra Basics

Section 2.7

Page 1 of 4

Section 2.7: Direct and Inverse Variation Problems Big Idea: Direct and inverse variations are fancy words for familiar concepts that lead to basic equations to solve. You know that when you drive for a longer time (while keeping your speed constant), then you end up going a further distance, and that if you buy more stuff at the store, then you are going to pay more in sales tax. The distance traveled depends on the amount of time spent traveling, and the amount of sales tax paid depends on the amount of the purchase. In addition, you know that this dependence is linear, or directly proportional, in the sense that if you drive for twice the number of hours, then you expect to go twice as far, and if you buy three times as much stuff, then you expect to pay three times as much sales tax. This section deals with these kinds of relationships. If two quantities vary directly or are directly proportional, (i.e., we say, distance varies directly with time, or sales tax is directly proportional to purchase amount) then we write the equation describing the relationship as: the first quantity equals a constant times the second quantity distance = speed time sales tax = percentage purchase amount or, in general, if y varies directly with x, or y is directly proportional to x, then: y = kx where k is the constant of proportionality or rate of change. Here are some examples of everyday proportionality constants: 1. Speed: miles per hour 2. Sales Tax rate: $ of tax per $ of purchase 3. Water flow: gallons per minute 4. Gas: $ per gallon 5. Oatmeal: $ per ounce 6. Wood: $ per foot 7. Monetary conversion: euros per dollar 8. Anything where one quantity has a simple (linear) dependence on another quantity To solve a direct variation problem: 1) Write down the direct variation equation: Quantity1 = constant Quantity2 2) Put given numbers in for Quantity1 and Quantity2, then solve for the constant. 3) Use the constant in the direct variation equation to find the desired quantity. Practice: 1. A mechanic earns $736.00 for 32 hours of work. What will the mechanic earn for 40 hours of work?

College Mathematics Notes

Section 2.7

Page 2 of 4

2. On 10/20/2010, 10.00 euros was worth $13.95. How many euros is $10,000.00 worth?

3. The area of a sphere varies directly as the square of its radius. If a sphere with a radius of 2.50 meters has an area of 78.5 square meters, find the area of a sphere with a radius of 5.2 cm. Use the correct number of significant figures in your answer.

Joint variation is the case where one quantity is directly proportional to the product of two or more quantities. To solve a joint variation problem: 1) Write down the direct variation equation: Quantity1 = constant Quantity2 Quantity3 2) Put given numbers in for the quantities, then solve for the constant. 3) Use the constant in the direct variation equation to find the desired quantity. Practice: 4. P varies jointly with r and s. If P = 16 when r = 5 and s = -8, find P when r = 2 and s = 10.

College Mathematics Notes

Section 2.7

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5. The value of a piece of real estate varies jointly with the size of the lot, the size of the house on the lot, and the distance of the lot from the sewage treatment plant. If a 0.50 acre plot with a 2,500 square foot house that is 5.5 miles from the treatment plant is worth $285,000, find the value of a 1.0 acre plot with a 2,800 square foot house that is 1.75 miles from the plant.

Inverse variation, or inverse proportion is the case where one quantity is proportional to the reciprocal of another quantity. Examples include: your homework grade is inversely proportional to the number of hours spent watching TV, or the loudness of a sound you hear is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source. 1 k y =k y = x x To solve an inverse variation problem: 1) Write down the inverse variation equation: Quantity1 = constant / Quantity2 2) Put given numbers in for the quantities, then solve for the constant. 3) Use the constant in the direct variation equation to find the desired quantity. Practice: 6. A student who watches 8 hours of TV per week has an average homework score of 94%. If the homework score is inversely proportional to the number of hours of TV watched, find the average score of a student who watches 20 hours of TV per week.

College Mathematics Notes

Section 2.7

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7. The resistance of a circuit element is inversely proportional to the current flowing through it. If the current = 25 Amps for a resistance of 100. ohms, find the resistance when the current is 73.8 amps.

8. The pressure of a gas depends on the amount of gas present (the number of moles, n), the absolute temperature (T), and the volume occupied by the gas (V). The relationship between these variables is that the pressure of a gas varies as the product of the amount of gas and the absolute temperature and inversely as the volume occupied by the gas. If P is 133,000 Pascals when T is 373 K, n = 120.3 moles, and V is 2.8 cubic meters, what is P when T is 400. K, V is 1.9 cubic meters, and n = 15.5 moles? Use the correct number of significant figures in your answer.

9. A drive gear having 80 teeth and rotating at 40 rpm meshes with a second gear having 16 teeth. How fast does the second gear rotate?