Mathematics Lesson Plan
Topic: Variation (Direct and Inverse Variation)
Subject: Mathematics
Class: Upper Secondary School (SS1) (Can also be adapted for JSS3 advanced learners)
Duration: 80 Minutes
Week: 1
Learning Objectives (WALT)
By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
1. Define variation.
2. Explain direct variation.
3. Explain inverse variation.
4. Solve problems involving direct variation.
5. Solve problems involving inverse variation.
6. Distinguish between direct and inverse variation.
Success Criteria (WILF)
Students will be successful if they can:
Define direct and inverse variation correctly.
Form equations involving direct and inverse variation.
Find the constant of variation.
Solve word problems involving direct and inverse variation.
Identify whether a relationship is direct or inverse.
Previous Knowledge
Students have learned:
Ratios
Proportion
Algebraic expressions
Simple equations
Teaching Aids
Whiteboard
Marker
Graph sheet
Calculator
Charts showing examples of direct and inverse relationships
Keywords
Variation, Constant of Variation, Direct Variation, Inverse Variation, Proportion, Product, Ratio.
Lesson Procedure
Starter Activity (10 Minutes)
Ask the following questions:
1. If one exercise book costs ₦500, how much will:
o 2 books cost?
o 5 books cost?
o 10 books cost?
2. If 8 workers complete a job in 12 days, what happens to the number of days if more
workers are employed?
Allow students to discuss their observations.
Lead them to conclude:
More books → More money (Direct)
More workers → Fewer days (Inverse)
Introduction (10 Minutes)
Explain that variation describes how one quantity changes in relation to another.
There are different types of variation, but today's lesson focuses on:
Direct Variation
Inverse Variation
Teacher Presentation (30 Minutes)
A. Direct Variation
Two quantities are said to vary directly if an increase in one causes a proportional increase in
the other.
Likewise,
a decrease in one causes a proportional decrease in the other.
The relationship is written as:
y∝x
or
y = kx
where
k = constant of variation
Example 1
If y varies directly as x and y = 12 when x = 3, find the equation.
Solution
y = kx
Substitute the values:
12 = 3k
k=4
Hence,
y = 4x
Example 2
If y varies directly as x and y = 18 when x = 6, find y when x = 10.
Solution
18 = 6k
k=3
Equation:
y = 3x
When x = 10,
y =3(10)
y = 30
B. Inverse Variation
Two quantities vary inversely if an increase in one causes a decrease in the other.
The relationship is
y∝
1
x
or
y∝
k
x
where
k = constant of variation
Example 1
If y varies inversely as x and y = 8 when x = 5, find the equation.
Solution
k
y=
x
k
8=
5
k = 40
Therefore,
40
y=
x
Example 2
If y varies inversely as x and y = 6when x = 8, find y when x = 12.
Solution
k = 6 × 8 = 48
Equation:
48
y=
x
When
x = 12
48
y=
12
y=4
Collaborative Activity (15 Minutes)
Divide students into groups.
Each group solves:
Group A
1. If y varies directly as x and y = 20 when x = 4, find:
o (a) the constant of variation
o (b) the equation
o (c) y when x = 15
Group B
2. If y varies inversely as x and y = 15 when x = 4, find:
o (a) the constant
o (b) the equation
o (c) y when x = 10
Students present their solutions.
Consolidation (10 Minutes)
Discuss the differences.
Direct Variation Inverse Variation
Increase → Increase Increase → Decrease
k
y = kx y=
x
y
Ratio is constant Product xy is constant
x
Assessment
Students should answer:
1. If y varies directly as x and y = 24 when x = 6, find the equation.
2. Find y when x = 15.
3. If y varies inversely as x and y = 10 when x = 6, find the equation.
4. Find y when x = 15.
5. State two differences between direct and inverse variation.
Plenary
Ask students:
What is direct variation?
What is inverse variation?
How do you find the constant of variation?
Which variation keeps the ratio constant?
Which variation keeps the product constant?
Lesson Note
Topic: Variation
Definition
Variation is the relationship between two quantities in which one quantity changes according to
changes in another quantity.
The two types discussed are:
1. Direct Variation
2. Inverse Variation
1. Direct Variation
Two quantities are said to vary directly if they increase or decrease together in the same
proportion.
Mathematically,
y∝x
Therefore,
y = kx
where:
k is called the constant of variation.
Example
If y = 16 when x = 4,
16 = 4k
k=4
Hence,
y = 4x
2. Inverse Variation
Two quantities vary inversely if one increases while the other decreases.
Mathematically,
y∝
1
x
Therefore,
k
y=
x
where:
k is the constant of variation.
Example
If y = 9 when x = 4,
k = 9 × 4 = 36
Therefore,
36
y=
x
Differences Between Direct and Inverse Variation
Direct Variation Inverse Variation
Quantities increase or decrease together. One quantity increases while the other decreases.
k
y = kx y=
x
y
is constant. xy is constant.
x
Class Exercise
1. If y varies directly as x and y = 28 when x = 7, find:
o (a) the constant of variation
o (b) the equation
o (c) y when x = 20
2. If y varies inversely as x and y = 12 when x = 5, find:
o (a) the constant of variation
o (b) the equation
o (c) y when x = 15
3. State three differences between direct and inverse variation.
Assignment
1. If y varies directly as x and y = 45 when x = 9, find:
o (a) the equation
o (b) y when x=18
2. If y varies inversely as x and y = 8 when x = 6, find:
o (a) the equation
o (b) y when x = 16
3. A car uses 15 litres of fuel to travel 180 km. Assuming the amount of fuel varies directly
with the distance travelled, how much fuel is required to travel 300 km?
4. Twelve workers complete a job in 10 days. Assuming the number of workers varies
inversely with the number of days, how many days will 15 workers take to complete the
same job?
Additional questions:
1. Given that y varies directly as x, when x = 3, y = 6, calculate y when x = 7.5 and x when y = 16.5
2. Given that y varies inversely as the square of x and y = 8 when x = 2, find the equation
1
connecting y and x. Calculate the value of y when x = 6 and x when y = .
2
3. If A varies directly as the cube root of B and if A = 3 when B = 64, find the formula connecting
the variables.
4. If y varies as the cube of x and if y = 6 when x = 4, find the value of x when y = 3.
5. The time of a pendulum varies as the square root of its length. If the length of a pendulum which
beats 15 seconds is 9cm. Find:
a. The length that beats 80 seconds.
b. The time of a pendulum with length 36cm.