JOINT VARIATION – variation where a

quantity varies directly as the product of

two or more other quantities.

“y varies jointly as x and z”

𝑦 = 𝑘𝑥𝑧
Examples:

1. y varies jointly as x and z and y = 72 when x = 3 and z = 4. Find

the constant and equation of variation.

𝑦 = 𝑘𝑥𝑧 𝑦 = 𝑘𝑥𝑧

72 = 𝑘(3)(4) 𝒚 = 𝟔𝒙𝒛

72 = 𝑘(12)

72 𝑘(12)
=
12 12

𝒌=𝟔
2. y varies jointly as x and z. If y = 20 when x = 4 and z = 3, find y when

x = 2 and z = 3.

𝑦 = 𝑘𝑥𝑧 𝑦 = 𝑘𝑥𝑧

5
20 = 𝑘 4 3 𝑦 = (2)(3)
3

5
20 = 𝑘 12 𝑦 = (6)
3

20 12 30
=𝑘 𝑦=
12 12 3

𝟓 𝟓
𝒌= 𝒚 = 𝒙𝒛 𝒚 = 𝟏𝟎
𝟑 𝟑

* y = 10 when x = 2 and z = 3.
3. z varies jointly as x and y. If z = 6 when x = 3 and y = 8, find z when

x = 6 and y = 4.

𝑧 = 𝑘𝑥𝑦 z = 𝑘𝑥𝑦

1
6=𝑘 3 8 𝑧 = (6)(4)
4

1
6 = 𝑘 24 𝑧 = (24)
4

6 24 24
=𝑘 𝑧=
24 24 4

𝟏 𝟏
𝒌= 𝒛= 𝒙𝒚 𝒛=𝟔
𝟒 𝟒

* z = 6 when x = 6 and y = 4.
Exercises:

Answer Module test I (1, 4, 5, 8) and

II (1 & 5).