Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry

In reading this module, you should be able to:

1. define the different kinds of variation
2. find the missing value of the different kinds of variation.
3. solve problems involving variations.

Lesson 1: Direct Variation

If the ratio between two quantities is constant, it means that one quantity varies
directly as the other quantity.
As one quantity increases the other quantity also increases.

In symbols, y = kx or k = where k is the constant of variation.

Illustrative Examples

A. Express each of the following by means of equation where k represents the constant of
variation.
1. “p varies directly as q”
is translated as p = kq
2. The cost (c) of meat varies directly as the number (n) of kilograms bought.
is translated as c = kn
3. The weight (w) of an athlete is directly proportional to his height (h)
is translated as w = kh
4. The cost (c) of chicken varies directly as its weight (w)
is translated as c = kw
5. Water pressure (p) varies directly as the height (h) of the water.
is translated as p = kh

B. Find the constant of variation k if y varies directly as x and:

1. y = 24 when x = 3
Solution: y = kx
24 = k(3)
24 = 3k
k=
k=8

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2. y = 4 when x =
Solution: y = kx
4 = k( )
4=
4(3) = 16k
12 = 16k
k=
k=

C. If y varies directly as x and y = 42 when x = 14, find y when x = 16

Solution: x = 14 y = 42
x = 16 y=?

y = kx equation
42 = k(14)
42 = 14k
k= =3 constant of variation

y = 3(16)
y = 48

D. If 51 kilograms of rice can feed a family for 45 days, how many kilograms of rice are needed
to feed the same family for 60 days?
Solution: x = 51 kg y = 45 days
x=? y = 60 days

y = kx equation
45 = k(51)
45 = 51k
k= = constant of variation

60 = ( )

60 =

60(17) = 15x
1020 = 15x
x=
x = 68

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Thus, 68 kilograms of rice are needed to feed the family for 60 days.

Lesson 2: Direct Square Variation

For direct square variation, one quantity varies directly as the square of the other quantity.

In symbols, y = kx2 or where k is the constant of variation

Illustrative Examples:

A. Express each of the following by means of equation where k represents the constant of
variation.
1. “p varies directly as the square of q”
is translated as p = kq2
2. The area (A) of a square varies directly as the square of its side (s).
is translated as A = ks2
3. The lateral area (A) of a cube varies directly as the square of an edge (e)
is translated as A= ke2
4. Power (P) varies directly as the square of the voltage (v).
is translated as P = kv2
5. The area (A) of the surface of a sphere varies directly as the square of the radius (r).
is translated as A = kr2

B. Answer the following

1. If y = kx2, and y = 36 when x = 3, find k.
Solution: y = kx2
36 = k(3)2
36 = 9k
k=
k=4

2. If y varies directly as x2, and y = 8 when x = 2, find y when x = 7.

Solution: x=2 y=8
x=7 y=?

y = kx2 equation
8 = k(2)2
8 = 4k
k=
k=2 constant of variation

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y = 2(7)2
y = 2(49)
y = 98

3. When a body falls from rest, its distance from the starting point is directly
proportional to the square of the time elapsed. In 2 seconds, a body falls through 19.6
meters. How far will it fall in 5 seconds?
Solution: x = 2 seconds y = 19.6 meters
x = 5 seconds y =?

y = kx2 equation
19.6 = k(2)2
19.6 = 4k
k=
k=5 constant of variation

y = 5(5)2
y = 5(25)
y = 125
In 5 seconds, the body falls from 125 meters

Web link:
https://www.varsitytutors.com/hotmath/hotmath_help/topics/direct-variation
https://www.mesacc.edu/~scotz47781/mat120/notes/variation/direct/direct.html

Video link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o31s1daJaWw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMzCEcsd09o

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Lesson 3: Inverse Variation

Whenever the product of corresponding values of two quantities is a constant, then one
quantity varies inversely as the other.

As one quantity increases the other quantity decreases.

In symbols, y = or k = xy where k is the constant of variation.

Illustrative Examples

A. Express each of the following by means of equation where k represents the constant of
variation.
1. At a constant voltage the electric current (I) varies inversely as the resistance (R).
is translated as I =
2. The volume (V) of a gas at constant temperature varies inversely as the pressure (P).
is translated as V =

3. Atmospheric pressure (P) varies inversely as the altitude (h).

is translated as P =

4. The altitude (h) of a triangle with constant area varies inversely as its base (b).
is translated as h =
5. The intensity of illumination (I) on a book varies inversely as the square of the distance (d)
from the source of light
is translated as I =

B. Answer the following

1. m varies inversely as n and m = 4 when n = 3, find the constant of variation.
Solution: m= equation
4=
4(3) = k
k = 12 constant of variation

2. If y varies inversely as x, and y = 12 when x = 2.5, find y when x = 4

Solution: y= equation
12 =
12(2.5) = k
k = 30 constant of variation

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x=4 k = 30 y=?
y=
y=
y= 7.5

3. The height of a cylinder of constant volume varies inversely as the square of the
radius of the base. If the height of the cylinder is 12 cm and the radius of the base is 5
cm, find the height of a cylinder with the same volume but has a base of radius of 8 cm.

Solution: h = 12 r=5
h=? r=8

h= equation
12 =
12 =
12(25) = k
k = 300 constant of variation

r=8 k = 300 h=?

h=
h=
h=
h = 4.69
Thus, the height of the cylinder is 4.69 cm if the base radius is 8 cm.

Web link:
https://www.mesacc.edu/~scotz47781/mat120/notes/variation/inverse/inverse.html
https://www.sparknotes.com/math/algebra1/variation/section2/

Video link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZO5GEaunr4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTv6Eqim8sg

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Lesson 4: Joint Variation

If one variable varies directly or indirectly with more than one variable, we say that there is a
joint variation.
If y varies directly as the product of x and z, if there is a constant k such that y = kxz or ,
then y varies jointly as x and z

Illustrative example:

A. Express each of the following by means of equation where k represents the constant of
variation.
1. The pressure (P) of a gas varies jointly as its density (d), and its absolute temperature
(t).
is translated as P = kdt
2. The weight (W) of a circular disc varies jointly as the square of its radius (r) and its
thickness (h).
is translated as W = khr2
3. P varies directly as L and inversely as the square root of G.
is translated as P =
√
4. A varies directly as the cube of b and inversely as the product of c and d.
is translated as A =
5. F varies jointly as m1 and m2 and inversely as the square of d.
is translated as F =

B. Answer the following

1. If x varies jointly as y and z, find the constant of variation if x = 5, z = 8, y = 480.
Solution: x = kyz equation
5 = k(480)(8)
5 = 3840k
k=
k = 768 constant of variation

2. A variable z varies jointly as x and y and inversely as u. If z = 14 when x = 4, y = 7, and u = 6, find the
value of y when x = 10, u = 5, and z = 6.
Solution: z = 14 x=4 y=7 u=6
z=6 x = 10 y=? u=5

z= equation
14 =

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14 =
14(6) = 28k
84 = 28k
k=
k=3 constant of variation

z=6 x = 10 y=? u=5 k=3

z= equation

6=
6=
(6)(5) = 30y
30 = 30y
y=
y=1

3. If p varies jointly as q and the square of s, find the % change in p if q is increased by 40% and s is
decreased by 15%.
Solution: Let p=1 q=1 s=1
q = 1.4 (since it increased by 40%)
s = 0.85 (since it decreased by 15%)
p=?
p = kqs2 equation
1 = k(1)(1)
k=1 constant of variation

q = 1.4 s = 0.85 p=? k=1

2
p = kqs
p = (1)(1.4)(0.85)2
p = 1.0115
Thus, p increased by 1. 01%

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Web link:
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/ivytech-collegealgebra/chapter/solve-problems-involving-joint-
variation/
https://www.math-only-math.com/joint-variation.html

Video link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73-H7OyNLUM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-aZVcKNgnQ

References:

https://www.varsitytutors.com/hotmath/hotmath_help/topics/direct-variation
https://www.mesacc.edu/~scotz47781/mat120/notes/variation/direct/direct.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o31s1daJaWw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMzCEcsd09o For all chapter 3
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wmopen-collegealgebra/chapter/introduction-variation/
https://www.mesacc.edu/~scotz47781/mat120/notes/variation/inverse/inverse.html
https://www.sparknotes.com/math/algebra1/variation/section2/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZO5GEaunr4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTv6Eqim8sg
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/ivytech-collegealgebra/chapter/solve-problems-involving-joint-
variation/
https://www.math-only-math.com/joint-variation.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73-H7OyNLUM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-aZVcKNgnQ

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