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DIRECT AND INVERSE PROPORTIONS

CONTENTS 1
Thus is, each ratio reduces to which is
25
 Direct Variation constant. We may express is in a general form as:
x
= k (constant)
 Inverse Variation y
Thus, we conclude that,
  Time and Work When two quantities x and y vary such that the
x
  Time Distance and Speed ratio
y
remains constant and positive, then we

say that x and y vary directly and the variation is

called a Direct Variation.
In Mathematical language, it may be written as,
Consider the following table which shows various
x
numbers of books (each of same cost) denoted by =k
x and the corresponding cost denoted by y. y
or x = ky
Let us consider any two values of x, say x1 and x2
with their corresponding values of y as y1 and y2.
We have
and x1 = ky1
Here, we note that there is an increase in cost
corresponding to the increase in the number of x2 = ky2
books. Hence, it is a case of direct variation. x 1 ky 1
 =
x 2 ky 2
In this case, if we compare the ratio of different
number of books to the corresponding costs, then x 1 y1
or = , which helps us to find the
we have : x2 y2
value of any one of x1, x2, y1 and y2, when other
2 3 5 10 15
, , , , , three are known.
50 75 125 250 375
 EXAMPLES 
         Ex.1 If the cost of 15 pens of the same value is
600, find the cost of -
1 1 1 1 1 (i) 20 pens
or , , , , ,
25 25 25 25 25
(ii) 3 pens.

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Sol. Let us denote the required cost by x. Now,
writing the like terms together, we have :
Consider the following table showing various
number of men and the corresponding number of
(i) days to complete the work.

15 3
Ratio of pens = =
20 4
600
Ratio of rupees =
x Here, the number of men are denoted by x and the
Since, more pens cost more money, so this is corresponding number of days by y.
a case of direct variation. In this case, when the number of men increases,
3 600 the corresponding number of days decreases. But,
Therefore, = by a careful observation, we find that the product
4 x
of the corresponding number of men and days is
or 3 × x = 600 × 4 always the same :
600 4
or x= 40 × 1 = 40
3
or x = 200 × 4 = 800 20 × 2 = 40
 The cost of 20 pens is 800.
15 5
10 × 4 = 40
(ii) Again, ratio of pens = =
3 1 8 × 5 = 40
600
ratio of rupees = 5 × 8 = 40
x
5 600 1× 40 = 40
 =
1 x
That is the product (40) is constant.
or 5 × x = 600 × 1
600 In general, it may be expressed as
or x= = 120
5 xy = k(constant)
 The cost of 3 pens is 120.
Let x1 and x2 be two values of x and their
Ex.2 Reema types 540 words during half an hour.
corresponding values of y be y1and y2.
How many words would she type in
6 minutes ? Then, x1 y1 = k and x2 y2 = k
Sol. Suppose she types x words in 6 minutes. x 1 y1 k
Then, the given information can be  = =1
represented in the following tabular form : x2 y2 k

x1 y 2
or x1 y1 = x2y2 or =
x 2 y1
Hence, we conclude that, if two quantities
Since in more time more words can be typed, x and y vary such that their product xy remains
it is case of direct variation. constant, then we say that x and y vary inversely
Ratio of number of words and the variation is called inverse variation.
= Ratio of number of minutes x1 y
The relation = 2 is used to find the value of
540 30 6 540 x2 y1
 = x = x = 108.
x 6 30 any one of x1, x2, y1 and y2, if the other three are
Hence, she types 108 words in 6 minutes. known.

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 EXAMPLES  Since, the greater the speed, the lesser the
time taken. Therefore, the number of hours
Ex.3 In a boarding house of 80 boys, there is food and speed vary inversely.
provisions for 30 days. If 20 more boys join
9 x
the boarding house, how long will the  =
provisions last ? 6 60
x 9
Sol. Obviously, more the boys the sooner would or =
the provisions exhaust. It is, therefore, the 60 6
case of inverse variation. The number of boys 9 910
or x = × 60 = = 90
in the two situations are : 6 1
80 and (80 + 20), i.e., 100 respectively. If the  Increase in speed = (90 – 60) km per hour
provisions last for x days when the number of = 30 km per hour
boys increased from 80 to 100, we can have Thus, the required increase in speed is
the following table : 30 km per hour.
Problems on Time and Distance
The speed of a moving body is the distance
moved in unit time. It is usually represented either
in km/h or m/s.
Here, the ratio between the like terms are :
Relation among Speed, Time and Distance
80 30
and The relation among speed, distance and time is given
100 x by Distance covered = Speed× Time taken.
Since, the problem is of inverse variation, we If any two of them are given, it is easy to
will invert the ratio and then equate them : determine the third one. The above relation can
x 80 also be expressed in the following manners :
=
30 100 Distance
Speed =
x 4 Time
or =
30 5 Distance
or Time =
4 30 4 6 Speed
or x= =
5 1 We talk about speed, say 27 km/h, it means that
we are actually talking about its average speed.
or x = 24
By average speed of a vehicle, we mean that
Therefore, the provisions will last for 24 days. constant speed at which the vehicle would cover a
distance of 27 km in an hour. Unless mentioned
Ex.4 A jeep finishes a journey in 9 hours at a speed otherwise, by speed we shall mean an average
of 60 km per hour. by how much should its speed.
speed be increased so that it may take only 6  EXAMPLES 
hours to finish the same journey ?
Ex.5 A man takes 12 hours to travel 48 kilometres.
Sol. Let the desired speed of the jeep be How long will he take to travel 72 kilometres?
x km per hour, then we have : Sol. Since the man travels 48 km in 12 hours,
12
therefore, one kilometre is travelled in hours.
Speed of the Jeep 48
Number of Hours
(in km per hour) 12 72
He travels 72 km in hours
9 60 48
6 x
or in 18 hours.

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Ex.6 A train of 320 metres length, is running at a  EXAMPLES 
speed of 72 km/h. How much time will it take
to cross a pole ? Ex.7 Ratan takes 5 days to complete a certain job
Sol. Speed of the train = 72 km/h and shankar takes 8 days to do the same job.
If both of them work together, how long will
= 72 × 1000 m/h they take to complete the work ?
72000
= m/s = 20 m/s Sol. Since, Ratan takes 5 days to complete the
60  60 given work
Length of the train = 320 m
1
Since the train of length 320 m has to cross  Ratan finishes part in 1 day.
the pole of negligible dimension, it has to 5
cross the length of itself, i.e., 320 m. Similarly, Shankar takes 8 days to complete
Thus, distance to be covered = 320 m the work.
Distance 1
Now, using the relation time = , we Therefore, Shankar finishes part in 1 day.
Speed 8
get the required time for the train to cross a
320  In a day, they together will finish
distance of 320 m = [ Speed of the
20 1 1 8  5 13
= + = =
train is 20 m/s (found above)] 5 8 40 40
Hence, the train takes 16 seconds to cross the
pole. 13
i.e., part of the work.
40

40 1
So, they both will take days 3 days to
We use the principles of direct and indirect 13 13
variations to solve problems on ‘time and work’, complete the work. Hence, the complete work
such as : 1
will be finished by them together in 3 days.
“More men do more work and less men do less 13
work” (Direct variation)
Ex.8 Kshitij can do a piece of work in 20 days and
“More men take less time to do a work and less Rohan can do the same work in 15 days. They
men take more time to do the same work.” work together for 5 days and then Rohan
(Indirect variation) leaves. In how many days will Kshitij alone
finish the remaining work ?
The problems on “time and work” are divided in
two categories: Sol. Since, Kshitij completes the work in 20 days
(i) To find the work done in a given period of 1
time.  Kshitij’s 1 day work = part
20
(ii) To find the time required to complete a
given job. Now, Rohan completes the work in 15 days.
Working Rules 1
Similarly, Rohan’s 1 day work = part
15
We shall use the unitary method by considering
the following fundamental rules for solving  Their combined work for 1 day
problems regarding time and work:
1 1 3 4 7
(i) A complete job or work is taken to be one. = + = =
20 15 60 60
(ii) Time to complete a work
 Their combined work for 5 days
Total work to be done
= . 7 7
Part of the work done in one day =5× = part
60 12
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Remaining work = Complete work – Work done Similarly,
in 5 days Part of the work B can do in 1 day
7 12  7 5
= (1 day work of A and B and C)
= 1– = = part – (1 day work of A and C)
12 12 12
Now, the remaining work is to be completed  1  1  32 1
=   = =
by Kshitij alone.  8   12  24 24
Kshitij can complete the whole work in 20 Hence, B can complete the work in
days.  24 
1  days, i.e., 24 days.
5  1 
So, he will complete work in
12
Ex.10 A contractor undertakes to construct a road in
5  25 1 20 days and engages 12 workers. After
  20  days, i.e., days or 8 days.
 12  3 3 2
16 days, he finds that only part of the work
Ex.9 A and B can do a piece of work in 10 days; B 3
and C in 15 days; C and A in 12 days. How has been done. How many more workers
long would A and B take separately to do the should he now engage in order to finish the
same work ? job in time ?
Sol. A and B can complete the work in 10 days. 2
Sol. From the question, it is clear that part of
3
1
(A and B)’s one day work = part the work has been completed by 12 workers
10 in 16 days.
Similarly, 2 1
 Remaining work = 1 – =
1 3 3
(B and C)’s one day work = part Remaining number of days = 20 – 16 = 4
15
1
1 Thus, part of the work is to be finished in
(C and A)’s one day work = part 3
12 4 days.
Adding up, we get  Number of workers required to complete
2(A and B and C)’s work in 1 day 2
part of work in 16 days = 12
3
6  4  5 15 1
=  1  1  1  part = = = part Number of workers required to complete 1
 10 15 12  60 60 4
work in 16 days
 (A and B and C) can do in 1 day 3
= 12 × × 16
1 1 1 2
= × = part 1
4 2 8 Number of workers required to complete
3
Now, work in 1 day
Part of work A can do in 1 day 3 1
= 12 × × 16 ×
= (1 day work of A and B and C) 2 3
– (1 day work of B and C) Number of workers required to complete
1
1  1  15  8 7 work in 4 days
=   = = part 3
 8   15  120 120
3 1 1
= 12 × × 16 × ×
 120  2 3 4
Hence, A can complete the work in 1 
 7   Number of additional workers required
120 1
= 24 – 12 = 12
days, i.e., or 17 days. Hence, the contractor will have to engage
7 7 12 more workers to complete the work in time.

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Ex.11 A garrison of 350 men had food for 25 days.  1 1
However, after 5 days a reinforcement of 150    Together they do    th of the work
 12 15 
men join them. How long will the food
in one day.
last now?
Sol. As 350 men have already eaten the food for 1 1 5 4 9 3
i.e. + = = =
5 days, so they will eat the remaining food in 12 15 60 60 20
20 days. Since 150 men have arrived, the
3
number of men now becomes 500. Thus, it  In one day they will finish th of the
can be represented in a tabular form as, 20
work
20 2
 They take = 6 days to finish the work.
3 3
Clearly, it is the case of inverse proportion. Ex.13 Two taps take 12 hours and 16 hours
Thus, ratio of men = inverse ratio of number respectively to fill a tank. Find the time taken
of days. to fill the tank if they are open at the same
time.
350 x 350  20 Sol. Time taken by first pipe = 12 hours
or = or x= = 14
500 20 500 1
 In 1 hour it fills th of the tank.
 The food will last for 14 days. 12
Time taken by second pipe = 16 hours
Time and Work 1
 In 1 hour it fills th of the tank.
The amount of work done by a person varies 16
directly with the time taken by him or her. Total work done in 1 hours
If a man completes a work in 20 days, thus by 1 1 43 7
= + = =
unitary method we can say that he will 12 16 48 48
1 48
complete th of the work in one day.  Time taken = hour
20 7
= 6 hours 51 minutes (approximately).
Rule 1. If A completes a work in n days, then
1
the work done by A in one day = th part of Ex.14 Mohinder ploughs a field in 6 days and Ram
n
ploughs the same field in 12 days. How long
the works. both of them take to plough the same field
1 working together ?
Rule 2. If A completesth part of the work Sol. Mohinder ploughs in 6 days = 1 field
n
1
in one day, then A will take n days to Mohinder ploughs in 1 day = th field
complete the work. 6
1
Ex.12 Ashish takes 12 days to do a piece of work, Ram ploughs in 1 day = th field
12
while Arjun takes 15 days to do the work. Both Ram and Mohinder ploughs in
Find the time taken by them if they work
1 1 
together. 1 day =    th field.
 6 12 
Sol. Ashish takes 12 days to do piece of work.
2 1 3 1
= = = field.
1 12 12 4
 In one day he does th of the work.
12 1
Now th of the field is ploughed by them in
Arjun takes 15 days to do a piece of work. 4
1 day.
1  The complete field will be ploughed by
 In one day he does th of the work. 4
15 them in 1 × = 4 days.
1

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Ex.15 12 men working 8 hours a day complete a
work in 10 days. How long would 16 men
1 We generally say that a body is covering so many
working 7 hours a day take to complete the kilometres every hour or so many metres in every
2
same work ? second. We define speed of a body as the distance
covered in unit time. Here, unit time can be one
Sol. Let the work completed in x days. hour or one minute or one second and a body
Men Hours Days means an object.
Thus, speed is expressed in metres per
12 8 10 second(m/s) or kilometres per second (km/s) or
16 15 x centimetres per second (cm/s). To find the speed
of a moving object, we divide the distance
2 covered by the time taken.
More men less time  16 : 12 Distance Distance
Less men more time  15  :: 10 : x  Speed = or Time =
:8  Time Speed
Thus, it is inverse var iation 
2 
or Distance = Speed × Time .
10  12  8  2 Ex.17 A man takes 2 hours to cover a distance when
x= =8
16 15 he walks at 3 kilometres per hour (kmph).
Find the time taken if he walks at the rate of
 16 men will complete the same work in 8 days. 4 kmph.
Ex.16 2 men and 3 boys can harvest a field in 7 Sol. Speed = 3 km/h; Time = 2 hours
days. How long would 1 man and 2 boys take    Distance = 3 × 2 = 6 km
to harvest the same field ? New speed = 4 km/h
Sol. Given that 2 men and 3 boys harvest a field in Distance = 6 km
7 days. Thus, let us calculate the amount of Distance 6 1
field harvested by each one in one day.  Time = = = 1 hours
Speed 4 2
2 men harvest 1 field in 7 days. 1
Thus, the time taken by the man is 1 hours.
1 2
In one day 2 men will harvest th of the
7 Ex.18 A train 375 m long takes 30 seconds to cross
field. a pole. Find the speed of the train in
kilometres per hour.
1
In one day 1 man will harvest th, i.e. Sol. To cross a pole means the whole train should
27
1 cross the pole.
th of the field.
14 The distance travelled = 375 m
1 Time taken = 30 seconds
Similarly, 1 boy will harvest th, i.e.
3 7
Distance 375 –1
1 Speed =  ms = 12.5 ms–1
th of the field in one day. Time 30
21
In the above example, we have to convert
Now, we have to find the time taken by 1 metres per second into kilometres per hour.
man and 2 boys to harvest the field. Adding
the amounts of work completed by 1 man and Now, 1 hour = 60 × 60 seconds, 1 km = 1000 m
2 boys in one day, we get
km 1000 m km 5 m
1 2 3 4 7 1   1 
+ = = or hr 3600 s hr 18 s
14 21 42 42 6
18
Thus, they will take 6 days to complete the or 1 m/s = km/hr
harvesting. 5
m 18
12 .5 = 12.5 × = 2.5 × 18 = 45 km/h.
s 5

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m km Ex.21 Two trains of length 150 m and 180 m are
Remember : To convert to multiply running on parallel tracks in the same
s hr
18 direction. Find the time taken to cross each
by . other if their speeds are 35 km/h and 40 km/h.
5
Sol. Since they are moving in the same directing,
km m 5 the relative speed will be (40 – 35) km/h = 5
To convert to , multiply by .
hr s 18 km/h.
Ex.19 A train 400 m long crosses a 800m long The distance covered will be total length of
bridge. If it is travelling at 40 kmph, find the the two trains = 150 + 180 = 330 m
time taken to cross the bridge.
Distance
Sol. The distance travelled will be the whole Time taken =
Speed
length of the train and the whole length of
bridge = 400 m + 800 m = 1200 m. 330 330  18
= =
5 100 5 5 5
Speed = 40km/h = 40 × m/s = m/s 5
18 9 18
= 237.6 seconds = 3.96 minutes.
Distance 1200
 Time = = sec = 108 sec Ex.22 A train moving at 30 km per hour completes
Speed 100 / 9
its journey in 14 hours. How much time will
or 1 min 48 sec.
the train take for the same journey if it
Ex.20 Two trains 132 m and 400 m in length are travelled at 60 km per hour ?
running on parallel tracks towards each other
Sol. The given information can be shown in a
at 40 km/h and 55 km/h. Find the time taken
tabular form as :
to cross each other.
Sol. Since they are travelling towards each other, Speed (kmph) 30 60
their relative speed will be (40 + 55) km/h Time (hours) 14 x
= 95 km/h.
As the speed increases, the time decreases
The distance travelled is the total length of and the distance remains the same.
the two trains,
 30 × 14 = 60 × x (refers to distance).
i.e. 132 + 400 = 532 m.
3014
Total distance 532 x= = 7 hours
 Time taken = = 60
Total Speed 5
95  Thus, the train will take 7 hours to complete
18
the journey moving at 60 km/hr.
532 18
= = 20.16 seconds.
95  5

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