Types of Variation

Direct Variation: y varies directly as x. As x increases, y

also increases. As x decreases, y also decreases.
Equation for Direct Variation: y = kx

Inverse Variation: y varies inversely as x. As x increases, y

decreases. As x decreases, y increases. The product of x
and y is always constant.
Equation for Inverse Variation: xy = k

Joint Variation: z varies jointly as x and y. As x and y

increases, z also increases. As x and y decrease, z also
decreases.
Equation for Joint Variation: y = kxz
k is the constant of variation
The graph of Direct Variation is a straight line
that passes through the origin whose slope, k, is
the constant of variation.

Let’s look at the

graph of y = 2x

The graph of y = 2x
is a straight line
passing through the
origin with a slope
of 2.
k is the constant of variation
The graph of Inverse Variation is a rectangular
hyperbola such that the product of x and y is k,
the constant of variation.

Let’s look at the

graph of xy = 2

The graph of xy = 2
is a rectangular
hyperbola whose
product of x and y
is always 2.
Direct Variation Example # 1

If three men earn $180 in one day,

how much will 15 men earn at the
same rate of pay?

First write an equation 180 = k(3)

Find the constant of variation 180/3 = k

k = 60

Use the constant of variation y = 60(15)

along with the given information y = 900

Therefore, 15 men will

earn $900 in one day at
the same rate of pay
That was easy
 Direct Variation Example # b

If a boat travels 132 miles in 11

hours, how far an it travel in 38.5
hours traveling at the same rate
of speed?
First write an equation 132 = k(11)

Find the constant of variation 132/11 = k

k = 12

Use the constant of variation y = 12(38.5)

along with the given information y = 462
Therefore, the boat
can travel 462 miles
traveling at the same That was easy
rate of speed.
Inverse Variation Example # a
The speed of a gear varies inversely as the
number of teeth. If a gear which has 36
teeth makes 30 revolutions per minute, how
many revolutions per minute will a gear
which has 24 teeth make?
First write an equation (30)(36) = k

Find the constant of variation k = 1080

Use the constant of variation y(24) = 1080

along with the given information y = 1080/24
y = 45
Therefore, a gear with
24 teeth will make 45
revolutions per minute. That was easy
Inverse Variation Example # 2

If 8 snow plows can plow the

airport in 6 hours, how many
hours will it take 3 snow plows
to plow the same airport?
First write an equation (6)(8) = k

Find the constant of variation k = 48

Use the constant of variation y(3) = 48

along with the given information y = 48/3
y = 16
Therefore, it will take
3 snow plows 16 hours
to plow the airport. That was easy
 Joint Variation Example # a
Suppose y varies jointly as x and z.
Find y when x = 9 and z = 2, if y = 20
when z = 3 and x = 5.
Method 1 y1  kx1z1 and y2  kx2z 2
Method 2
y1  20, x1  5, z1  3
20  k (5)(3) 20 y2
y2  y2 , x2  9, z 2  2 
20 4 (5)(3) (9)(2)
k k 
15 3 y1 y2
k k 15y2  360
4 x1z1 x2z2
y2  (9)(2)
3 y1 y2 y2  24
y2  24 
xz1 1 xz
2 2

Asi De Facil
 Joint Variation Example # 2
Suppose y varies jointly as x and z.
Find y when x = 9 and z = -3, if y = -50
when z = 5 and x = -10.
Method 1 y1  kx1z1 and y2  kx2z 2
Method 2
y1  50, x1  10, z1  5
50  k (10)(5) 50 y2
y  y , x  9, z  3 
50 2 2 2 2 ( 10)(5) (9)( 3)
k k 1
50 y1 y2
k k 50y2  1350
x1z1 x2z2
y2  1(9)( 3)
y1 y2 y2  27
y2  27 
x1z1 x2z2

Asi De Facil
 Combined Variation # 1
When one quantity varies directly and
inversely as two or more quantities.
Suppose f varies directly as g and f varies
inversely as h. Find g when f = 18 and h = -3,
if g = 24 when h = 2 and f = 6.
f varies directly as g so g
(6)(2) (18)( 3)
Direct Variation goes in the numerator. 
f varies inversely as h so h 24 g2
y  kx goes in the denominator.
12 g2  1296
Inverse Variation kg1 kg2
f1  and f2  h g2  108
xy  k h1 2

k fh f2h2
y  k  1 1
and k 
x g1 g2 That
f1h1 f2h2
 was
g1 g2 easy
 Combined Variation # b
When one quantity varies directly and
inversely as two or more quantities.
Suppose a varies directly as b and a varies
inversely as c. Find b when a = 7 and c = -8,
if b = 15 when c = 2 and a = 4.
a varies directly as b so b
( 4)(2) (7)( 8)
Direct Variation goes in the numerator. 
a varies inversely as c so c 15 b2
y  kx goes in the denominator.
8b2  840
Inverse Variation kb1 kb2
a1  and a2  c b2  105
xy  k c1 2

k a1c1 a2c2
y  k  and k 
x b1 b2 That
a1c1 a2c2
 was
b1 b2 easy
This variation stuff
is pretty easy.
I feel Oh my! I think
like
I’ll just push the
jumping easy button.
for joy!
That
was
easy
 Variation Word Problems
The volume of a gas varies v varies inversely as
the pressure p and directly as the temperature t.

a) Write an equation to represent the volume of a gas in

terms of pressure and temperature.
b) Is your equation a direct, joint, inverse, or combined
variation?
c) A certain gas has a volume of 8 liters, a temperature
of 275 Kelvin, and a pressure of 1.25 atmospheres. If
the gas is compressed to a volume of 6 liters and is
heated to 300 Kelvin, what will the pressure be?