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4.01 Inverse variation

Lesson

Concept summary

Inverse variation

A relationship in which the product of two variables is constant

The equation is given by

\displaystyle y=\dfrac{k}{x}
\bm{x}
First variable
\bm{y}
Second variable
\bm{k}
A constant of variation

As the value of one variable increases, the value of the other will decrease.

Worked examples

Example 1

Consider the table of values.

x12345
y12060403024
a

Determine whether the table of values could represent an inverse variation between x and y.

Approach

We determine whether the two variable quantities can be represented by the equation for the inverse variation.

If the product of the two variables is always equal to the constant of variation, then the table of values represents an inverse variation.

Solution

Note that the two quantities have inverse variation if they can be represented by the equation y=\dfrac{k}{x} where k is the constant of variation and the variable quantities are x and y.

Observe that y=\dfrac{k}{x} implies k=xy. So we multiply the values of x and y to find k.

If the product of the two variables is always equal to the constant of variation k, then the table of values represents an inverse variation.

Now,

\qquadIf x=1 and y=120, then xy=1 \cdot 120=120.

\qquadIf x=2 and y=60, then xy=2 \cdot 60=120.

\qquadIf x=3 and y=40, then xy=3 \cdot 40=120.

\qquadIf x=4 and y=30, then xy=4 \cdot 30=120.

\qquadIf x=5 and y=24, then xy=5 \cdot 24=120.

This means that k=120 since xy=120 for all (x,y).

Therefore, the table of values represents an inverse variation between x and y.

b

Write a function relating y and x, given the table of values.

Approach

We simply substitute the obtained value of the constant variation in part (a) to the equation for the inverse of variation.

Solution

From part (a), we obtained the constant variation k=120.

Substituting k=120 to the equation y=\dfrac{k}{x}, we get y=\dfrac{120}{x}

Therefore, the table of values is represented by the equation y=\dfrac{120}{x}.

Example 2

The relationship between the current, C, (in amperes) and resistance, R, (in ohms) in an electrical circuit is given by: C = \dfrac {200}{R}where the voltage provided to the circuit is 200\text{ V}.

An incomplete table of values for this relationship is given below.

R510202540
C8
a

Complete the table.

Solution

We substitute each value of R to the inverse variation equation C = \dfrac {200}{R} to find the value of C.

Now,

\qquadIf R=5 , then C= \dfrac {200}{5}=40.

\qquadIf R=10 , then C= \dfrac {200}{10}=20.

\qquadIf R=20 , then C= \dfrac {200}{20}=10.

\qquadIf R=25 , then C= \dfrac {200}{25}=8.

\qquadIf R=40 , then C= \dfrac {200}{40}=5.

Therefore, the complete table of values is:

R510202540
C40201085
b

Sketch the relationship between the current and resistance.

Solution

We assign the horizontal axis for variable R and the vertical axis for variable C.

We plot first the coordinates (R,C) on the coordinate plane. The points are: (5,40),(10,20),(20,10),(25,8) \text{ and }(40,5)

Then we graph the function C = \dfrac {200}{R}

The graph is given below.

5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
R
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
C
c

The current in an electrical circuit is 50 amperes. Based on the model, determine the resistance.

Solution

The relationship between the current C and the resistance R can be modeled by C=\dfrac{200}{R}

We substitute C=50 to the equation to find R. So we get 50=\dfrac{200}{R}

Multiplying both sides by \dfrac{R}{50}, we have R=\dfrac{200}{50}=4

Therefore, the resistance in an electrical circuit when the current is 50 amperes is 4 ohms.

Example 3

The number of pizzas, n, that Charlotte can buy is in inverse variation to the price of each pizza, p. Charlotte bought 15 pizzas that cost \$8.00 each.

a

Find the constant of variation, k, between the number of pizzas and price of each pizza.

Approach

First, we relate the two variables by finding equation for their relationship. To find the constant of variation, we simply substitute the given values for the number of pizzas and the price of each.

Solution

We express n in terms of p using the constant of variation k.

The number of pizzas, n, is in inverse variation to the price of each pizza, p. So we have n=\dfrac{k}{p}

Since n=15 when p=8, we substitute these values to the equation to find the constant of variation k and we get 15=\dfrac{k}{8}

Multiplying both sides by 8, we obtain k=120

b

Express n in terms of p.

Approach

We use the equation which relates the two variables. To express n in terms of p, we simply substitute the value of the constant of variation obtained in part (a).

Solution

The number of pizzas, n, is in inverse variation to the price of each pizza, p. So we have n=\dfrac{k}{p}

From part (a), we obtain the constant of variation k=120.

Substituting k=120 to the equation, the expression for n in terms of p is: n=\dfrac{120}{p}

c

Find the number of pizzas that Charlotte can buy when the price of each pizza is \$12.00.

Approach

We simply use the equation obtained in part (b). To find the number of pizzas, we substitute the price of each pizza to the equation.

Solution

From part (b), we have expressed the number of pizzas, p, in terms of the price of each pizza, p.

That is, n=\dfrac{120}{p}

We substitute p=12 to the equation to find n. So we get n=\dfrac{120}{12}=10

Therefore, Charlotte can buy 10 pizzas that costs \$12.00 each.

Outcomes

MA.912.AR.8.2

Given a table, equation or written description of a rational function, graph that function and determine its key features.

MA.912.AR.8.3

Solve and graph mathematical and real-world problems that are modeled with rational functions. Interpret key features and determine constraints in terms of the context.

MA.912.F.1.1

Given an equation or graph that defines a function, determine the function type. Given an input-output table, determine a function type that could represent it.

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