20/2/2014 Direct, Inverse, and Joint Variation - She Loves Math

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Direct, Inverse, and Joint Variation

This section covers Direct or Proportional Variation, Inverse or Indirect Variation,
and Joint and Combined Variation. Here is an example of a Joint Variation Word
Problem.
When you start studying algebra, you will also study how two (or more) variables can
relate to each other specifically. The three cases youll study are Direct Variation, where
both variables either increase or decrease together, Inverse or Indirect Variation, where
when one of the variables increases, the other one decreases, or Joint Variation, where
more than two variables are related together in any way. These sound like a lot of fancy
math words, but its really not too bad.
Direct or Proportional Variation
When two variables are related directly, the ratio of their values is always the same. So
as one goes up, so does the other, and if one goes down, so does the other. Think of
direct variation as a y = mx line, where the ratio of y to x is the slope (m). With direct
variation, the y-intercept is always 0 (zero); this is how its defined.
Direct variation problems are typically written:
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20/2/2014 Direct, Inverse, and Joint Variation - She Loves Math
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Some problems will ask for that k value (which is called the which is called the constant
of variation or constant of proportionality its like a slope!); others will just give you 3
out of the 4 values for x and y and you can simply set up a ratio to find the other value.
Im thinking the k comes from the word constant in another language.
So the example of making $10 an hour at the mall (y = 10x) is direct variation; the ratio of
how much you make to how many hours you work is always constant.
We can also set up direct variation problems in a ratio, as long as we have the same
variable in either the top or bottom of the ratio, or on the same side. This will look like
the following. Dont let this scare you; the subscripts just refer to the either the first set
of variables , or the second .
So we might have a problem like this:
The value of y varies directly with x, and y = 20 when x = 2. Find y when x = 8. (Note
that this may be also be written y is proportional to x, and y = 20 when x = 2.
Find y when x = 8.)
We can solve this problem in one of two ways, as shown. We do these methods when we
are given any three of the four values for x and y.
Formula Method:
Proportion Method:
20/2/2014 Direct, Inverse, and Joint Variation - She Loves Math
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Its really that easy. Can you see why the proportion method can be the preferred method,
unless you are asked to find the k constant in the formula?
Note that if the problem asked for the equation that models this situation, it would be
y = 10x.
Example word problem:
Brady bought an energy efficient washing machine for her new apartment. If she saves
about 10 gallons of water per load, how many gallons of water will she save if she washes
20 loads of laundry?
Lets do this with the proportion model:
See how similar these types of problems are to the Proportions problems we did earlier?
Inverse or Indirect Variation
Inverse or Indirect Variation is refers to relationships of two variables that go in the
opposite direction. Lets supposed you are comparing how fast you are driving (average
speed) to how fast you get to your school. You might have measured the following speeds
20/2/2014 Direct, Inverse, and Joint Variation - She Loves Math
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and times:
(Note that means approximately equal to).
Do you see how when the x variable goes up, the y goes down, and when you multiply the
x with the y, we always get the same number? (Note that this is different than a negative
slope, since with a negative slope, we cant multiply the xs and yx to get the same
number).
So the formula and a sample graph for inverse variation is:
So we might have a problem like this:
The value of y varies inversely with x, and y = 4 when x = 3. Find x when y = 6.
The problem may also be worded like this:
Let = 3, = 4, and = 6. Let y vary inversely as x. Find .
We can solve this problem in one of two ways, as shown. We do these methods when we
are given any three of the four values for x and y.
20/2/2014 Direct, Inverse, and Joint Variation - She Loves Math
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Formula Method:
Product Rule Method:
Example word problem:
For the Choir fundraiser, the number of tickets Allie can buy is inversely proportional to
the price of the tickets. She can afford 15 tickets that cost $5 each. How many tickets can
Allie buy if each cost $3?
Lets use the product method:
20/2/2014 Direct, Inverse, and Joint Variation - She Loves Math
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You might be asked to look at functions (equations or points that compare xs to unique
ys well discuss later in the Introduction to Functions section) and determine if they
are direct, inverse, or neither:
Joint Variation and Combined Variation
Joint variation is just like direct variation, but involves more than one other variable.
Combined variation involves a combination of direct or joint variation, and indirect
variation. Since these equations are a little more complicated, you probably want to plug
in all the variables, solve for k, and then solve back to get whats missing. Here is the
type of problem you may get:
(a) y varies jointly as x and w and inversely as the square of z. Find the equation of
variation when y = 100, x = 2, w = 4, and z = 20.
(b) Then solve for y when x = 1, w = 5, and z = 4.
Lets solve:
20/2/2014 Direct, Inverse, and Joint Variation - She Loves Math
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A joint variation word problem:
The volume of wood in a tree (V) varies jointly as the height (h) and inversely as the
square of the girth (g). If the volume of a tree is 144 cubic meters when the height is 20
meters and the girth is 1.5 meters, what is the height of a tree with a volume of 1000 and
girth of 2 meters?
Were doing really difficult problems now but see how, if you know the rules, they really
arent bad at all?