VARIATION

A variation is a relation between a set of values of one variable and a set of values of other d = kt
variables. 20 = 2k
20
KINDS OF VARIATION k=
2
 Direct Variation k = 10
- Direct variation exists between any two variables when one quantity is directly Therefore, the constant of variation is 10.
dependent on the other i.e. if one quantity increases with respect to the other
quantity and vice versa. It is the relationship between two variables where one  Inverse Variation
of the variables is a constant multiple of the other. Since the two variables are - Inverse variation occurs whenever a situation produces pairs of
directly related to each other it is also termed as directly proportional. Direct numbers whose products are constant. For two quantities x and y, an
variation formula is y = kx, where k is the constant of variations. increase in x causes a decrease in y or vice versa. We can say that y varies
- There is a direct variation whenever a situation produces pairs of numbers in k
which their ratios are constant. The statements: “y varies directly as x”, “y is inversely as x or y = .
x
directly proportional to x” and “y is proportional to x” are translated k
mathematically as y = kx. For two quantities x and y, an increase in x causes an - The statement, “y varies inversely to x”, translates to y = , where k is the
increase in y. Similarly, a decrease in x causes a decrease in y.
x
constant of variation.
Example:
Example:
1. If y varies directly as x and y = 24 when x = 6, find the variation constant and the
1. Find the equation and solve for k: y varies inversely as x and y = 6 when x = 18.
equation of variation.
Solution:
Solution:

a. Express the statement “y varies directly as x” as y = kx. k

The relation y varies inversely as x translates to y = ,. Substitute
b. Solve for k by substituting the given values in the equation. x
k
y = kx the values to find y =
24 = 6k
x
24 k
6 =
k= 18
6
k = (6)(18)
k=4
k = 108
Therefore, the constant of variation is 4.
108
The equation of variations is y = .
2. The table shows that the distance d varies directly as time t. Find the constant of x
variation and the equation which describe the relation.
2. If y varies inversely as x and y = 10 when x = 2, find when x = 10.
Time (hr) 1 2 3 4 5
Distance (km Solution:

Solution xy = k
(2)(10) = k
Since the distance d varies directly as time t, then d = kt. k = 20
Using one pairs of values, (2, 20), from the table, substitute the values of d
and t in d = kt and solve for k.
 20
The equation of variation is y = .
x  Combined Variation
Next, find y when x =10 by substituting the value of x in the equation. - another physical relationship among variables. This is the kind of variation
20 that involves both direct and inverse variations.
y= kx
x - The statement “z varies directly as x and inversely as y “means z = or
y
20 zy
y= k= , where k is the constant of variation.
10 x
y=2
Example:

1. If z varies directly as x and inversely as y, and z = 9 when x = 6 and y = 2, find z

 Joint Variation when x = 8 and y = 12.
- If more than two variables are related directly or one variable changes
with the change product of two or more variables. Solution:
a kx
- The statement “a varies jointly as b and c” means a=kbc, or k = , where The equation is z =
bc y
k is the constant of variation. Solve for k by substituting the first set of values of z, x and y in the equation.
Example: kx
z=
1. Find the equation of variation where a varies jointly as b and c, and a = 36 when b y
= 3 and c = 4.
6k
Solution: 9=
2
a = kbc
36 = k(3)(4) 9
k=
36 3
k=
12
k=3 k=3

Therefore, the required equation of variation is a = 3bc. 2. Translating statements into mathematical equations using k as the constant of variation.

2. z varies jointly as x and y. If z = 16 when x = 4 and y = 6, find the constant of a. T varies directly as a and inversely as b
variation and the equation of the relation. ka
T=
Solution: b
z = kxy b. Y varies directly as x and inversely as the square of z.
16 = k (4)(6)
16 kx
k= Y= 2
24 z
2
k=
3
2
The equation of variation is z = xy
3
 9
y= (15)
5

= 27

c) Substitute y = 6 into the equation

2. The cost of a taxi fare (C) varies directly as the distance (D) travelled. When the
distance is 60 km, the cost is $35. Find the cost when the distance is 95 km.

C ∝ D i.e. C = kD, where k is a constant.

Solution:

Substitute C = 35 and D = 60 into the equation

35 = 60k

35 7
k= =
60 12

7
More Examples: Therefore, C = D
12
Direct Variations 7
Substitute D = 95 into the equation: C = (95) = 55.42
12
1. If y varies directly as x and given y = 9 when x = 5, find: The cost for 95 km is $55.42
a) the equation connecting x and y
b) the value of y when x = 15 3. The total cost of filling up your car with gas varies directly with the number of
c) the value of x when y = 6 gallons of gasoline that you are purchasing. If a gallon of gas costs $2.25, how
many gallons could you purchase for $18?

a) y ∝ x i.e. y = kx where k is a constant

Solution:
4. y varies directly with x. y = 54 when x = 9. Determine the direct variation
Substitute x = 5 and y = 9 into the equation: equation and then determine y when x = 3.5
5. Hooke’s Law states that the displacement, d, that a spring is stretched by a
hanging object varies directly as the mass of the object. If the distance is 10 cm
9
y= x when the mass is kg, what is the distance when the mass is 5 kg?
5
6. y varies directly with x. y = 32 when x = 4. Determine the direct variation
equation and then determine y when x = 6
b) Substitute x = 15 into the equation

Inverse Variations
1. The volume VV of a gas varies inversely as the pressure (P) on it. If the volume (12)(f)=6300
is 240 cm3 under pressure of 30 kg/cm2, what pressure has to be applied to have a Solve for f.
volume of 160 cm3? 6300
f= = 525
12
The volume V varies inversely as the pressure P means when the volume increases,
the pressure decreases and when the volume decreases, the pressure increases.
Therefore, 12-inch violin string vibrates at a frequency of 525 cycles per second.
Now write the formula for inverse variation.
PV=k

Substitute 240 for V 30 for P in the formula and find the constant
(240)(30)=k
7200=k

Now write an equation and solve for the unknown.

We have to find the pressure when the volume is 160 cm3.

So,

(160)(P)=7200
Solve for P.
7 200
P=
160
= 45
Therefore, pressure 45 kg/cm2 be applied to have a volume of 160 cm3.

2. The length of a violin string varies inversely as the frequency of its vibrations. A
violin string 14-inches long vibrates at a frequency of 450 cycles per second. Find the
frequency of a 12 -inch violin string.
The length(l) varies inversely as the frequency(f), when the length increases, the
frequency decreases and when the length decreases, the frequency increases.

Now write the formula for inverse variation.

lf=k

Substitute 450 for f, 14 for l in the formula and find the constant.
(450)(14)=k
6300=k

Now write an equation and solve for the unknown.

We have to find the frequency of 1212 -inch violin string.
So,