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4.10 Interpreting proportional relationships

Lesson

We've already learned about proportional relationships, where two quantities vary in such a way that one is a constant multiple of the other. In other words, they always vary by the same constant.

Remember!

Proportional relationships are a special kind of linear relationship that can be written generally in the form $y=kx$y=kx and always pass through the origin $\left(0,0\right)$(0,0).

To interpret information from a graph, we need to look at pairs of coordinates. Coordinates tell us how one variable relates to the other. Each pair has an $x$x value and a $y$y value in the form $\left(x,y\right)$(x,y).

  • The $x$x-value tells us the value of the variable on the horizontal axis.
  • The $y$y-value tells us the value of the variable on the vertical axis.

It doesn't matter what labels we give our axes, this order is always the same.

 

Let's look at some examples and see this in action.

 

Worked example

Question 1

The number of eggs farmer Joe's chickens produce each day are shown in the graph. 

What does the point $\left(6,3\right)$(6,3) represent on the graph?

Think:  The first coordinate corresponds to the values on the $x$x-axis (which in this problem would represent the number of days) and the second coordinate corresponds to values on the $y$y-axis ( which in this problem would represent the number of eggs).

Do: 

Using the given information in context, we can interpret this point to mean that in $6$6 days the chickens will produce $3$3 eggs.

Reflect: How many days does it take for the chickens to lay $1$1 egg?

 

Practice questions

question 2

The number of liters of gas used by a fighter jet over a certain number of seconds is shown in the graph. What does the point on the graph represent?

Loading Graph...
A number plane with the horizontal axis is labeled "seconds of flight", while the vertical axis is labeled "liters of gas". A line drawn from the origin (0, 0) and passes through the point (12, 6) as indicated by a black dot on the line. The specific coordinates of the point are not given or labeled so don't mention the coordinates when asked about the graph.
  1. $6$6 liters of gas are used by the fighter jet every $12$12 seconds.

    A

    $12$12 liters of gas are used by the fighter jet every $6$6 seconds.

    B

question 3

The number of cupcakes eaten at a party is shown on the graph.

Loading Graph...
In a coordinate plane, a linear graph with its line beginning at the origin and rising with a positive slope, indicating a direct relationship between two variables. The x-axis represents the number of guests at a party, and the y-axis corresponds to the number of cupcakes eaten. The line starts from the origin $\left(0,0\right)$(0,0) and passes through point $\left(12,4\right)$(12,4) indicated by a solid dot on the line. The specific coordinates of the point are not explicitly given or labeled.
  1. What does the point on the graph represent?

    $12$12 cupcakes are eaten by $4$4 guests.

    A

    $4$4 cupcakes are eaten by $12$12 guests.

    B
  2. Danielle is having a party, and expects to have $18$18 guests. According to the rate shown on the graph, how many cupcakes should she buy?

Outcomes

MA.7.AR.4.4

Given any representation of a proportional relationship, translate the representation to a written description, table or equation.

MA.7.AR.4.5

Solve real-world problems involving proportional relationships.

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