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Understanding Variation in Mathematics

Variation problems involve relationships between variables where one variable is equal to another with a constant of variation. There are three main types of variation: 1) Direct variation, where two variables are directly proportional and change at the same rate. The equation is y=kx. 2) Inverse variation, where an increase in one variable causes a decrease in the other, and their product is constant. The equation is y=k/x. 3) Joint variation, where a variable depends on the product of two or more other variables. The equation is y=kxz.

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65 views2 pages

Understanding Variation in Mathematics

Variation problems involve relationships between variables where one variable is equal to another with a constant of variation. There are three main types of variation: 1) Direct variation, where two variables are directly proportional and change at the same rate. The equation is y=kx. 2) Inverse variation, where an increase in one variable causes a decrease in the other, and their product is constant. The equation is y=k/x. 3) Joint variation, where a variable depends on the product of two or more other variables. The equation is y=kxz.

Uploaded by

Nanette Manglo
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© All Rights Reserved
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Variation

Variation problems involve fairly simple relationships or formulas, involving one variable being equal to one term. Here follows the most
common kinds of variation.

The constant of variation in a direct variation is the constant (unchanged) ratio of two variable quantities. In the following equation y
varies directly with x, and k is called the constant of variation:

y=kxy=kx

Another form of variation is the inverse variation which works when there is a relationship between two variables in which the product is
a constant. When one variable increases the other decreases in proportion so that the product is unchanged.

If y is inversely proportional to x and k is a constant, the equation is of the form :

y=kxy=kx

When we have a variation where one quantity varies as the product of two or more other quantities we have what is called joint
variation:

y=kxz

Direct Variation:

If two variables A and B are so related that when A increases ( or decreases ) in a given ratio, B also increases ( or, decreases ) in the
same ratio, then A is said to vary directly as B ( or, A is said to vary as B ). This is symbolically written as, A ∝ B (read as, ‘A varies
as B’ ). Suppose a train moving at a uniform speed travels d km. in t minutes. Now, consider the following table:

d (km) 24 12 48 36

t (min) 30 15 60 45

Inverse Variation:

A variable quantity A is said to vary inversely as another variable quantity B, when A varies as the reciprocal of B i.e., when A varies as
1/B

Thus, if A varies inversely as B, we write A ∝ 1/B or, A = m ∙ (1/B) or, AB = m where’m (≠ 0) is the constant of variation. Hence, if one
variable varies inversely as another, then the product of the corresponding values of the variables is constant.

Conversely, if AB = k where A and B are variables and k is a constant, then A ∝ 1/B Hence, if the product of the corresponding values
of two variables is constant, then one quantity varies inversely as another.

Again, if A varies inversely as & then AB = constant ; but AB = constant implies that when A increases in a given ratio, B decreases in
the same ratio and vice -- versa. Thus, if two variables are so related that an increase (or decrease ) in the value of one variable in a
certain ratio corresponds to a decrease (or increase) in the same ratio in the value of the other variable then one variable varies
inversely as another.

Let a m. and b m. be the length and breadth r area 160 sq. m. Now, consider the following table:

a m. 20 16 40

b m. 8 10 4
Joint Variation:

One variable quantity is said to vary jointly as a number of other variable quantities, when it varies directly as their product. If the
variable A varies directly as the product of the variables B, C and D, i.e., if.A ∝ BCD or A = kBCD (k = constant ), then A varies jointly
as B, C and D.

We know, area of a triangle = ½ × base × altitude. Since ½ is a constant, hence area of a triangle varies oint1y as its base and altitude.

A is said to vary directly as B and inversely as C if A ∝ B ∙ 1/C or A = m ∙ B ∙ 1/C (m = constant of variation) i.e., if A varies jointly as B
and 1/C.

If x men take y days to plough z acres of land, then x varies directly as z and inversely as y.

Variation Variation problems involve fairly simple relationships or formulas, involving one variable being equal to one term
Joint Variation: One variable quantity is said to vary jointly as a number of other variable quantities, when it varies dire

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