1 proportion

Let’s Learn to
understand the scale of a map
The map above has a scale.

calculate the actual distance between two points and the
Do you know what this scale
actual area of a region from the readings on a map
is? Why is it important for a
map to have a scale? How use ratio to solve problems involving scales
would you calculate the actual understand the ideas of direct proportion and inverse proportion
distance between two locations 
determine whether two quantities are in direct proportion
such as Jurong Island Fire or inverse proportion from a graph, a table or an equation
Station and Seraya Power   connecting the two quantities
Station on the map? solve practical problems on direct proportion and inverse
proportion
 1.1 Map Scale

0 500 1000

km

A Map Scale and Distance MATHS WEB

You may visit http://www.
How are maps useful when we visit a foreign country or an unfamiliar place? starpub.com.sg/dm/s2e/
A proper map has a map scale that shows the relationship between a distance on the weblinks_2a.html to
access the Google map of
map and the actual horizontal distance on the ground. We can calculate the actual
Singapore. Zoom in and out
distance between two locations or the actual area of a place on the map based on the on the map and observe
given map scale. the change in the scale of
1
the map.
A map scale is usually represented as a ratio (e.g. 1 : 20 000) or a fraction e.g. .
20 000
If the ratio of a map is 1 : 20 000, it means that 1 unit length on the map represents an
actual distance of 20 000 units on the ground. DISCUSS
1. When written in the form
of a fraction, do you
Example 1 A distance of 3 cm on a map represents an actual distance know why the numerator
of 1.5 km. of a scale is usually 1?
(a) Find the scale of the map in the form 1 : r.
2. If 1 cm on the map
(b) If the distance between two schools on the map is 7 cm, find represents 20 000 cm on
the actual distance between the two schools in km. the ground, how many
(c) If the actual distance between two food centres is 6 km, find metres on the ground
the distance on the map in cm. would 1 mm on the map
represent?

Chapter 1 Proportion
2
Solution (a) Map scale = 3 cm : 1.5 km
= 3 cm : 1.5  1000  100 cm Convert 1.5 km to centimetres.
= 3 cm : 150 000 cm
= 1 : 50 000

(b) The map scale shows that 1 cm on the map represents

50 000 cm on the ground.
∴ the actual distance between the two schools
= 7  50 000 cm
= 350 000 cm
= 3.5 km
1
(c) Distance on the map = 6  km

=6 
50 000
1
 1000  100 cm
RECALL
50 000
1 km = 1000 m
= 12 cm 1 m = 100 cm
1 km = 1000 3 100 cm
= 100 000 cm
Try It! 1 A distance of 4 cm on a map represents an actual distance of 5 km.
(a) Find the scale of the map in the form 1 : r.
(b) If the distance between two cinemas on the map is 6 cm, find
the actual distance between the two cinemas in km.
(c) If the actual distance between two bus stops is 8 km, find the
distance on the map in cm.

B Map Scale and Area

If the scale of a map is 1 : r, what is the ratio of the area of a region on the map to the
actual area of the region? Let us explore it in the following activity.

1
Objective: To interpret the various scales used on maps, floor plans and other scale drawings,
and calculate the actual distances/lengths and areas.

Questions
1. The diagram on the right is an engineering drawing of the
design of a mobile phone. The scale is 1 : 2.
(a) Measure the width and the height of the screen on
the drawing. 9 cm
13.4 cm
(b) Calculate the actual area of the screen.
(c) What is the ratio of the area of the screen on the
drawing to the actual area of the screen?

6 cm
6.8 cm

3
 2.

0 100 200 m

Dover
EW22 Pedestrian Gate
Commonw Gate 8
ealth Aven
Bio Stream ue West

T12

Plaza
T12A T11A
Natural Woods A GRO-
CONCOURSE TECH

T16
T14 W1

e
Avenu
T15
Ecogarden
T4A
W2

Dover
Street T8
LIBRARY T1
Multi-purpose
Soccer
W3
Field T6 T4 MLT
T9 T2 1
POLYCENTRE FC1

The diagram above shows the partial campus map of Singapore Polytechnic.
(a) Find the scale of the map and express it in the form 1 : r.
(b) How would you estimate the actual distance between Dover MRT station and Gate 8 from the
map? Give your estimation.
(c) Estimate the actual length and breadth of the building block W1 from the map.
(d) Hence, what can you say about the actual site area of the building block W1?
(e) What is the ratio of the area of the block on the map to the actual area of the block?

3. The diagram on the right shows the floor plan of a

flat. The scale of the floor plan is 1 : 150.
(a) Measure the dimensions of Bedroom 2 on the
floor plan in cm. Bedroom 3
(b) Find the actual length and breadth of
Bedroom 2 in cm. Bedroom 1
(c) What is the ratio of the area of Bedroom 2 Kitchen
on the floor plan to the actual area of
Bedroom 2?
(d) If you were to add a bed, a writing table and a
chair to Bedroom 2, what sizes of these pieces
of furniture would be appropriate?
Living room

Bedroom 2

Chapter 1 Proportion
4
When the scale of a map is 1 : r, a square of side 1 cm on
the map represents an actual square of side r cm.
Hence, area on the map : actual area = 1 cm2 : r 2 cm2 r cm
r 2 cm2
= 1 : r2
1 cm2 1 cm
1 cm r cm

If the scale on a map is given by 1 : r, then the ratio of the area measured
on the map to the actual area is 1 : r 2.

Example 2 The scale of a map is 1 : 30 000. A rectangular piece of land is 4 cm

by 2.5 cm on the map.
(a) Find the actual area of the land in km2.
(b) If the actual area of a small town is 0.6 km2, find its area on
the map in cm2.

(a) Method 1
Solution
Actual length of the land = 4  30 000 cm
= 120 000 cm
Spot Check
= 1.2 km The scale of a drawing is
1 : 100. If the area of a room
Actual breadth of the land = 2.5  30 000 cm
in the drawing is 10 cm2­,
= 75 000 cm would the actual area of the
= 0.75 km room be 1000 cm2?
∴ actual area of the land = 1.2  0.75 Explain your answer.
= 0.9 km2

Method 2

0.09 km2 0.3 km

1 cm2 1 cm

1 cm 0.3 km
map ground

As illustrated in the diagram,

  scale of the map = 1 : 30 000
= 1 cm : 0.3 km.
Hence, area on the map : actual area = 1 cm2 : 0.3  0.3 km2
= 1 cm2 : 0.09 km2
Area of the land on the map = 4  2.5 cm2
= 10 cm2
∴ actual area of the land = 10  0.09 km2
= 0.9 km2

5
 (b) Area of the town on the map = 0.6 ÷ 0.09 cm2
=6
2
3
cm2 REMARK
Area onmap 1 cm2
=
Actual area 0.09 km2
Try It! 2 The scale of a map is 1 : 40 000. A rectangular field is 3 cm by
2 cm on the map.
(a) Find the actual area of the field in km­2.
(b) If the actual area of the region that is covered with bush is
2 km2, find its area on the map in cm2.

Example 3 The following street map has a scale of 1 : 10 000.

Clarke

5
NE
Quay

Hong Lim
Park

Chinatown
4
NE

(a) Find out from the map the walking distance, in m, between
Chinatown and Clarke Quay MRT stations for a tourist.
(b) Estimate the area of Hong Lim Park from the map in m2.

Solution (a) Distance between the two stations on the map = 6.1 cm
\ the actual distance between them = 6.1 3 10 000 cm
= 61 000 cm
= 610 m

(b) Hong Lim Park is approximately a rectangle of 2 cm by 1 cm

on the map.
Scale of the map = 1 : 10 000
= 1 cm : 100 m
Area on the map : Actual area = 1 cm2 : 100 3 100 m2
= 1 cm2 : 10 000 m2

Area of Hong Lim Park on the map = 2 3 1
= 2 cm2
\ actual area of Hong Lim Park = 2 3 10 000 m2
= 20 000 m2

Chapter 1 Proportion
6
 Try It! 3
The following street map has a scale of 1 : 2500.

et
tre
pS
se
in
Pr
Sim Lim
Square

te
tre
Al

nS
be
rt

ole
Str

co
ee
t

n
Be
(a) Find out the length, in m, of the section of Albert Street between
Prinsep Street and Bencoolen Street from the map.
(b) Estimate the area of Sim Lim Square from the map in m2.

Example 4 The diagram shows the floor plan of a living room.

In the plan, the room is 6 cm long and 4 cm wide, a cabinet is

2 cm long and a table has an area of 2.5 cm2. The actual length of
the room is 7.2 m. Find
(a) the scale of the floor plan,
(b) the actual length of the cabinet in m,
(c) the actual area of the table in m2.

Solution
(a) Scale of the floor plan = 6 cm : 7.2 m
= 6 cm : 7.2  100 cm
= 1 : 120

7
 (b) Actual length of the cabinet = 2  120 cm
= 240 cm
= 2.4 m

(c) Area on the plan : Actual area = 12 : 1202

= 1 : 14 400
∴ actual area of the table = 2.5  14 400 cm2
2.5  14 400
= m2
10 000
= 3.6 m2

Try It! 4 The diagram shows the floor plan of a 2-room flat. In the plan, the
flat is 4 cm long, the bedroom is 1.5 cm long, and the household
shelter has an area of 1.2 cm2. The actual length of the flat is 8 m.
Find
(a) the scale of the floor plan,
(b) the actual length of the bedroom in m,
(c) the actual area of the household shelter in m2.
4

Living/Dining
Household
shelter

Kitchen
Bedroom 1.5
Bath/WC

Objective: To make a scale drawing of an existing or a dream classroom/bedroom and explain

the choice of the scale used.

Task
Work in groups of two or three students, and propose a scale drawing of the floor plan of a dream
classroom or a bedroom. Your group has to decide the scale of your drawing and state it in your
drawing. Explain the choice of the scale used.

The classroom should be 7 m wide and 9 m long. It must include a teacher’s table and chair,
30 students’ desks and chairs, whiteboard, and other desirable furniture and equipment. You
should first measure the actual dimensions of the furniture.

The bedroom should be 4 m wide and 3 m long. It must include a bed, a wardrobe, a table, a
chair/sofa and other desirable furniture. You should first measure the actual dimensions of the
furniture.

Question
Write a short paragraph to explain how and why you came up with the design.

Chapter 1 Proportion
8
EXERCISE 1.1
LEVEL 1
1. Express each map scale in the form 1 : r.
(a) 1 cm : 8 m (b) 3 cm : 900 m
(c) 4 cm : 12 km (d) 5 cm : 20 km

1
2. Express each map scale in the form .
r
(a) 1 cm : 12 m (b) 6 cm : 5400 m
(c) 4 cm : 1 km (d) 7 cm : 28 km

3. The scale of a street map is 1 : 5000. Find the actual distance, in metres, for each of the following
distances on the map.
(a) 4 cm (b) 7 cm

1
4. The scale of a district map is . Find the distance on the map, in centimetres, for each of the
10 000
following actual distances.
(a) 800 m (b) 5 km

5. The scale of a detailed map is 1 : 2000. Find the actual area, in square metres (m2), for each of the
following areas on the map.
(a) 1 cm2 (b) 5 cm2

6. The scale of a city map is 1 : 50 000. Find the area on the map, in square centimetres (cm2), for each
of the following actual areas.
(a) 1 km2 (b) 15 km2

LEVEL 2
7. A street is 250 m long. It is represented by a distance of 5 cm on a map.
(a) Express the scale of the map in the form 1 : r.
(b) If another street is 600 m long, find its distance on the map in cm.

8. An actual ground distance of 6 km is represented by a distance of 2 cm on a map.

1
(a) Express the scale of the map in the form .
r
(b) If the distance between two police stations on the map is 5 cm, find their actual distance apart
in km.

9. Suppose that 3 cm on a map represents 1.2 km on the ground.

(a) Find the scale of the map in the form 1 : r.
(b) If the area of a lake is 0.32 km2, find its area on the map in cm2.
Changi
4 cm
10. The diagram shows a triangle connecting 3 places on a map. Bishan
The actual distance between Bishan and Changi is 16 km. Find
(a) the scale of the map in the form 1 : r,     4.25 cm
1.85 cm
(b) the actual distance, in km, between
(i) Bishan and Bugis,
(ii) Bugis and Changi. Bugis

9
 11. A queen size bed is 203 cm by 152 cm. On the floor plan of a bedroom with a scale of 1 : 50, find
(a) the dimensions of the bed in cm,
(b) the area of the bed in cm2.

12. On the floor plan of an office with a scale of 1 : 100, the dimensions of a rectangular conference
room are 7.5 cm by 4 cm. Find its actual
(a) length in metres,
(b) perimeter in metres,
(c) area in square metres.

13. Study the map of Pulau Ubin below.

Joh
o r
PULAU UBIN Stra
Outward Bound its
Singapore
(Camp 1)

Joh
o r Sungei
PULAU UBIN Stra Mamam
Outward Bound its Sungei
Singapore Besar
Jetty (Camp 1) Outward Bound NPCC Ja
Joh la
Singapore o r Campsite n
(Camp 2) PULAU UBIN Stra Kekek 10
Outward Bound its Quarry Sungei

Ma
Singapore
(Camp 1) Mamam

m
Sungei 20

am
Jetty Outward Bound Besar NPCC

in
Jetty Ja 30
Singapore Campsite la Balai Quarry

d
Sungei n 40
Kekek

or
(Camp 2)

m
10
Ketam Mamam

No
Quarry Sungei
Sia

Ma
Quarry n

g
Besar
Jetty Outward Bound NPCC
Sam H e

m
Ja 20
at
Singapore Campsite la 20 30

am
n an
nW

(Camp 2) Kekek

in
Jetty 30
10 Balai Quarry

l
Ja
Quarry

d
40
Jala

Ma
or
Jalan Durian
m

Ketam

No

m
Sia

20

lan

am
Quarry n

g
Sam H e

in
Jetty
at

30
Ke 20 3Balai Quarry Kg Melayu

Ja
an 0

d
W

40

or
taKetam 30
ianm

Kg Durian

l
No

g Ja
m 10
t aSla

Quarry n Jalan Durian 30 20

Ch 20 Sam H e
Ubin
aJ

20 0 10

lan
0 0
an 2 3
nW

Ke an MCC Quarry605040
20 Kg Melayu 1

in
Ja
20

UbJal
10
ne in
Jala

ta Jalan Durian Kg Durian 10 30

m l Resort 30 10
Ub 30 20

lan
20
Ch Ubin 20 20 0 10
Ke 201020 Kg Melayu
Ja

Batu
an MCC Quarry605040 10 20 1 0

n
ta 30

Jalan
ne 10 Kg
in Durian
40 30
3

i
m 10

Ub
20 10 30 20
Ch l Resort Ubin 30 20
Ub 20 0 10
an 20 20 10 1
MCC Quarry605040 dut Sen i n n

Batu
20
ne Sungei En10 10 n2010
i

Lo Pulau Ubin
30

Jalann
bi
Ub

30
al
Resort Jetty 30 n 40 U 10
l J a20la 20

a
Puaka 10 J main village
Batu

d u t 10Sen
in
2010
En 30
Pekan
Jalan
Sungei 40 30
Lo Pulau UbinMeeting
an

rB
Jetty J a l an
20 l Police
Ja
i
Ja l a n
Puaka 10
Quarry
main village point post

ink ang
t Sen i n
Sungei Endu PekanLo Pulau Ubin
an

l Meeting

rB
Jetty J a l an Ja
Police Jetty
a
i
Ja l a n

Puaka Quarry point

main village postl aJetty

ink ang

J
Pulau Ketam Pekan Meeting n
rB

ur
Police P ekan
al
ain J e lut o n g
Ja l a n

Quarry point U bin

post

rbo
ink ang
J

Pulau Ketam Pek Jetty

J eallut o n gManagement r
an an Ubin
ou Ha
J

Pulau Ketam
ur arb
P ek
Sungei
Kg Jelutong lut o n g
J eManagement an Uoffice
bin
rbo HJetty
oon
Sungei office
JelutongJelutong
Kg Jelutong Ha oon
Management Jetty

rang
Sungei office Jetty
Kg Jelutong
ng
Jetty
Jetty
on
Jelutong Jetty

Sera
ngo Sera Se

0 0.2 0.4
0.2 0.60.80.81 km
0.4 0.6 1 km
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 km
Legend
Legend
Legend
Road
Road River
River Building
Building
Road Toilet Building
Bridge River
Dirt track Bridge
Dirt track Toilet
Footpath Quarry i
Visitor Information
Dirt track
Footpath i
Quarry BridgeCentre Toilet
Visitor Information
10 Contours Shelter Jetty Centre
10 Contours
Footpath Shelter Quarry Jetty i Visitor Information
Centre
10 Contours Shelter Jetty

1
(a) Express the scale of the map in the form .
r
(b) Based on the scale, estimate the actual direct distance, in km, between Outward Bound
Singapore (Camp 1) and Balai Quarry.

LEVEL 3
14. A region of actual area 18 km2 is represented by an area of 2 cm2 on a map.
(a) If the area of a village is 0.25 cm2 on the map, find its ground area in km2.
1
(b) Find the scale of the map in the form .
r

Chapter 1 Proportion
10
15. The diagram shows a piece of land in which AB = 45 m, BC = 24 m and AD = 16 m.

C
D
24
16

A 45 B

(a) Find the area of the land.

(b) Find the length of AB, in cm, and the area of the land, in cm2, on a map which is drawn to a scale
of
(i) 1 cm to 5 m,
(ii) 1 : 200,
1
(iii) .
2500

16. The scale of a map of Asia is 1 : 25 000 000. The actual distance between Singapore and Beijing is
4457 km. The total area of Taiwan is 36 000 km2. Find
(a) the distance between Singapore and Beijing on the map in cm,
(b) the total area of Taiwan on the map in cm2.
Give your answers correct to 3 significant figures.

17.

Use the map above to estimate the actual ground distance, in km, between
(a) MacRitchie Reservoir and Pandan Reservoir,
(b) Changi Airport and Sentosa.
Give your answers correct to the nearest km.

11
 18. The diagram shows the floor plan of a 2-room flat. On the plan, the walls AB and CD are 2 cm and
2.5 cm long respectively. The actual length of the wall AB is 2.4 m.

A 2 cm B

Bedroom
Living/Dining

Bath/WC

Household
shelter
Kitchen

C 2.5 cm D

(a) Find the scale of the plan.

(b) Find the actual length of the wall CD in metres.
(c) If the area of the household shelter on the map is 1.5 cm2, find its actual area in m2.

19. The diagram shows the plan of a living room with a balcony.

2.8 m
E D

5m Living room

Balcony 3.4 m

A 4m B

(a) Find the actual area of the balcony.

(b) Draw a plan of this diagram using a scale of 1 : 50.
(c) (i) Measure the length of CD on the plan in cm.
(ii) Hence, calculate the actual length of CD in m.

20. Obtain a scale map of Singapore.

(a) Write down the scale of the map.
(b) Estimate the distance between Changi Airport and City Hall MRT station from the map.
(c) Estimate the land area of Singapore from the map. Explain your method.

Chapter 1 Proportion
12
1.2 Direct Proportion

A Direct Proportion and its Graphical Representation

When two quantities are related to each other, their changes may follow a certain
pattern. For instance, if a bowl of noodles costs $2 at your school canteen, you will have
to pay $4 for two bowls of noodles and $6 for three bowls of noodles and so on. Thus the
amount you pay is related to the number of bowls of noodles ordered.

We shall explore this special relationship further in the following class activity.

3
Objective: To examine and make sense of the concept of direct proportion using tables,
equations and graphs.

Questions
The following table shows the relationship between the number (x) of books bought and the
total cost ($y) of the books.
Number of books (x) 1 2 3 4 5 6
Total cost ($y) 5 10 15 20 25 30

1. Copy and complete the following table.

x 1 2 3 4 5 6
y 5 10 15 20 25 30
y
x

2. Plot the corresponding points (x, y) y

in Question 1. You may use the
scales for both axes as shown. 30

3. What can you say about the points

25
you have plotted in Question 2?
4. Write down an equation connecting
Total cost ($)

20
x and y.
5. How would you find the value of 15
y when x = 8? State the value you
found and compare your method 10
with your classmates.
6. Does the graph of the equation in 5
Question 4 pass through the origin
(0, 0)? Do you know why? x
O 1 2 3 4 5 6
Number of books

13
 In Class Activity 3, we have
y 5 10 30
= = = ... = = 5, which is a constant.
x 1 2 6

That is, y = 5x.

We say that the number (x) of books bought and the total cost ($y) are in direct
proportion. Also, we see that the points (x, y) lie on a straight line passing through the
REMARK
Do you know that a distance
origin. The equation of the straight line is y = 5x.
on a map and its actual
distance are in direct
When two quantities, x and y, are in direct proportion, we have proportion?
y
= k, where k is a constant.
x
Hence, y = kx.

For example, in Class Activity 3, the constant k = 5. Hence, y = 5x.

The formal definition of direct proportion is as follows:

DISCUSS
In the graph in Class
y
The quantities x and y are in direct proportion if is a constant. Activity 3,
x
(a) what is the gradient of
the straight line?
(b) what does the gradient
in this case represent?

Example 5 The following table shows the travelling time taken (t hours) and
distance covered ( y km) by a car.

Travelling time
0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
(t hours)
Distance covered
30 60 90 120 150
( y km)

(a) Show that t and y are in direct proportion.

(b) Draw the graph of y against t.
(c) Find the equation connecting t and y.
(d) Find the value of y when t = 1.25.
(e) Find the value of t when y = 72.

Solution (a) t 0.5 1.5 1.5 2.0 2.5

y 30 60 90 120 150
y
t
60 60 60 60 60

y

From the above table, = 60 is a constant,
t
i.e. y = 60t
Hence, y and t are in direct proportion.

Chapter 1 Proportion
14
 (b) The graph of y against t is shown below.
y

150

Distance covered (km)

y = 60t
100

50

t
O 1 2 3
Travelling time (hours)

y
(c) Since = 60, the equation connecting t and y is
y = 60t.
t
DISCUSS
(d) When t = 1.25, yt
y = 60  1.25 Substitute t = 1.25 into the equation in (c).
y = 75

(e) When y = 72,

72 = 60t Substitute y = 72 into the equation in (c).
72
t=
60
= 1.2

Try It! 5 The following table shows the number of hours worked (t) and the
corresponding wages ($w) of a worker.

Number of hours worked (t ) 10 20 30 40 50

Wages ($w) 150 300 450 600 750

(a) Show that t and w are in direct proportion.

(b) Draw the graph of w against t.
(c) Find the equation connecting t and w.
(d) If the worker worked 35 hours, find his wages.
(e) Find the number of hours he worked if his wages were $675.

From Class Activity 3 and Example 5, we can obtain the following properties of direct
proportion.

When two quantities, x and y, are in direct proportion,

• y = kx, where k is a constant and k ≠ 0,
• the graph of y = kx is a straight line passing through the origin.

15
 Example 6 The height, H cm, of a pile of books is directly proportional to the
number of books, n, in the pile. The height of a pile of 10 books is
15 cm. What is the height of a pile of 24 books?
Spot Check
A given mass of gas is kept
at a constant pressure.
Solution Method 1 The following table shows
Since n and H are in direct proportion, some values of the volume,
V cm3, of the gas at
H = kn, where k is a constant.
temperature, T °C.
When n = 10, H = 15.
∴ 15 = k  10 T 27 47 87
15 V 1500 1600 1800
k=
10
= 1.5
Hence, H = 1.5n. Are T and V in direct
proportion? Explain your
When n = 24, answer.
H = 1.5  24
= 36.
The height of a pile of 24 books is 36 cm.

Method 2
REMARK
Let h cm be the height of a pile of 24 books. The value of k is actually
the thickness of each
Since n and H are in direct proportion,
book in centimetres.
H
is a constant.
n
h 15
∴ =
24 10
15

h = 24 
10
= 36
The height of a pile of 24 books is 36 cm.

Try It! 6 The number of pieces, n, of chocolate and their total mass, M grams,
are in direct proportion. The mass of 15 pieces of chocolate is
180 g. Find the mass of 20 pieces of chocolate.

Example 7 The height , h cm, of h

water in a cylinder at time
t seconds is given by the 20
following graph.
D
15
Determine whether h is C
directly proportional to t.
10 B
A
5

t
O 1 2 3 4

Chapter 1 Proportion
16
Solution In the graph,
coordinates of A = (1, 8)
coordinates of C = (3, 14).
8 14
Since ≠ ,
1 3
h is not directly proportional to t.
Note: 1. Though the graph of h against t is a straight line, it does

not pass through the origin.
2. The equation connecting h and t is h = 3t + 5.
REMARK
h is a linear function of
Thus, it is not in the form h = kt, where k is a constant. t, but h is not directly
3. From the above two points, we can also see that h is not proportional to t.
directly proportional to t.

Try It! 7 The distance, y km, of a cyclist from a park at time t hours is given
by the following graph.

80

C
60

B
40

A
20

t
O 1 2 3 4

Determine whether y is directly proportional to t.

B Other Forms of Direct Proportion

In the following examples, we will explore other forms of direct proportion.

Example 8 The following table gives the mass, y grams, of a square plate of
side x cm cut from an iron sheet.

x 2 4 6 8 10
y 14 56 126 224 350

(a) Plot a graph of y against x.

(b) Plot a graph of y against x2.
(c) What can you say about the relationship between x and y?
(d) Describe the change in y when the value of x is doubled.

17
 Solution (a) The graph of y against x is shown below.

y

400

300

200

100

x
O 2 4 6 8 10

(b) x 2 4 6 8 10
x2 4 16 36 64 100
y 14 56 126 224 350

The graph of y against x2 is shown below. Note that the horizontal
axis is x2.

y

400

300

200

100

x2
O 20 40 60 80 100

Chapter 1 Proportion
18
 (c) Since the graph of y against x is not a straight line, x and y are
not in direct proportion. REMARK
The graph of y against x2 is a straight line. When y =
7 2 y 7
x, = x
y 14 56 126 224 350 7 2 x 2
In fact , 2 = = = = = = is not a constant.
x 4 16 36 64 100 2
Thus, x and y are not in
7 direct proportion.

\ y = x2.
2
We say that x2 and y are in direct proportion.
7 2 7
Note: In (c), if we let x2 be X, then y = x becomes y = X.
y 7 2 2
That is = which is a constant. Thus, y is directly
X 2
proportional to X (that is x2).
7
(d) We have originally y = x2. Now when the value of x is doubled,
2
it changes from x to 2x.
7
New value of y = (2x)2
2
7
= (4x2)
2
7
= 4 3 x2
2

= 4 3 Original value of y

\ the value of y is 4 times its original value.

Try It! 8 The following table gives the mass, y grams, of an ice cube of side x cm.

x 1 2 3 4 5
y 0.9 7.2 24.3 57.6 112.5

(a) Plot a graph of y against x.

(b) Plot a graph of y against x3.
(c) What can you say about the relationship between x and y?
(d) Describe the change in y when the value of x is halved.

Example 9 For each of the following equations, state which two variables are
directly proportional to each other. Show your reasons.
(a) y=5 x (b) y = (x – 1)2
(c) y = 3x
2
(d) y = 3x + 5

Solution (a) y =5 x
y

We have = 5 which is a constant.
x

\ y is directly proportional to x.

19
 (b) y = (x – 1)2
y
= 1 is a constant.
( x – 1)2
\ y is directly proportional to (x – 1)2.

(c)
y2 = 3x
y2
= 3 is a constant.
x
\ y2 is directly proportional to x.

(d) y = 3x + 5
y – 5 = 3x
y–5
= 3 is a constant.
x

\ ( y – 5) is directly proportional to x.
Note: In the given equation y = 3x + 5, y is not directly proportional
to x as y is not in the form y = kx, where k is a constant.
The graph of y = 3x + 5 is a straight line but it does not pass
through the origin.

Try It! 9 For each of the following equations, state which two variables are
directly proportional to each other. Show your reasons.
(b) y = p + 1
3
(a) A = rr 2
(c) y2 = 0.1x3 (d) y = 2x – 3

Example 10 The mass of a solid metal sphere and the cube of its radius are in
direct proportion. When the radius of the sphere is 5 cm, the mass
is 3500 g. Find the mass of a sphere of radius 2 cm.

Solution Method 1
Let the mass of a sphere of radius r cm be m grams.
Then m = kr3, where k is a constant.
When r = 5, m = 3500.
∴  3500 = k  53
3500
k=
125
= 28
Hence, m = 28r3.
When r = 2,
m = 28  23
= 224.
The mass of a sphere of radius 2 cm is 224 g.

Chapter 1 Proportion
20
 Method 2
Let y grams be the mass of a sphere of radius 2 cm.
Since m and r3 are in direct proportion,
m
3
is a constant.
r
y
3
= 3500
3
2 5
3500

y =83
125
= 224
The mass of a sphere of radius 2 cm is 224 g.

Try It! 10 The mass of a square piece of glass panel is directly proportional to
the square of the length of its side. When its side is 20 cm, the mass
is 1000 g. Find the mass, in grams, of a glass panel of side 30 cm.

EXERCISE 1.2
LEVEL 1 2. In each of the following graphs, determine
whether x and y are in direct proportion and
1. In each of the following tables, determine whether explain your answer.
x and y are in direct proportion and explain your
answer. (a) y

(a) x 1 2 3 4 30
y 3 6 9 12
20
(b) x 2 4 6 8
10
y 10 20 25 40
x
O 2 4 6
(c) x 3 6 7 10
y 21 42 49 70
(b) y

(d) x 8 12 15 20 60

y 30 48 60 80
40

20

x
O 5 10 15

21
 3. In each of the following equations, determine 9. Given that p is directly proportional to the cube
whether x and y are in direct proportion and root of x.
explain your answer.
(a) y = 4x (b) y = x + 2 x 27 64 n
1 p m 6 15
(c) y = x2 (d) y = x
2

4. If two quantities, x and y, are in direct proportion, (a) Find the values of m and n.
find the values of p and q in the following table. (b) Find the change in the value of p when the
value of x becomes 8 times its original value.
x 12 18 q
10. The following table shows the mass (m grams) of
y 8 p 24
a pinewood cube of side x cm.
Length of a
5. It is given that w is directly proportional to t and 2 4 5 8 10
side (x cm)
w = 20 when t = 4. Find
Mass
(a) the value of w when t = 6, (m grams)
5.2 41.6 81.25 332.8 650
(b) the value of t when w = 45.
(a) Is m proportional to x?
6. It is given that A is directly proportional to r 2 (b) Is m proportional to x3?
where r  0 and A = 75 when r = 5. Find (c) Find an equation connecting m and x.
(a) the value of A when r = 4, (d) Find the mass of a pinewood cube of side
(b) the value of r when A = 147, 9 cm.
(c) the change in the value of A when the value
of r is doubled. 11. The total number of apples, T, is directly
proportional to the number of baskets, n, of

LEVEL 2
apples. There are a total of 120 apples in 5 baskets.
(a) Write down the equation connecting T and
n in the form T = kn, where k is a constant.
7. The following table shows the total price ($P) for
(b) Interpret the meaning of k found in (a).
x copies of a book.
(c) Find the total number of apples in 8 baskets.
Copies of books (x) 1 2 3 4 5
12. The price for n movie tickets is $P. It is known
Total price ($P) 15 30 45 60 75 that P is directly proportional to n and the price
of 7 tickets is $56.
(a) Show that x and P are in direct proportion. (a) Write down the equation connecting P and
(b) Draw the graph of P against x. n in the form P = kn, where k is a constant.
(c) Describe the graph in (b). (b) Interpret the meaning of k found in (a).
(d) Find the equation connecting x and P. (c) Complete the following table.
(e) Using the equation in (d), find the number of
copies that can be purchased with $165. n 2 4 6 8
P
8. For each of the following equations, state which
two terms are in direct proportion. Show your (d) Draw the graph of P against n for 0 < n < 8.
reasons.

LEVEL 3
(a) T= S
(b) y2 = 7n
(c) R = 5(w + 1)2 13. The cost of making a fence is directly proportional
2 to the length of the fence. The cost for a 4-m fence
(d) y =
x is $240.
(a) Find the cost for a 7-m fence.
(b) If Mr Lee has a budget of only $350, what
is the maximum length of fence he can
make?
Chapter 1 Proportion
22
 14. The mass of a silver plate is directly proportional 17. (a) In daily life, we often encounter a wide
to its volume. When its volume is 20 cm3, its mass variety of quantities involving direct
is 210 g. proportion. Describe two such quantities.
(a) Find the mass of a silver plate of volume (b) Draw a graph to show their relationship.
50 cm3. (c) Find an equation connecting the quantities.
(b) If the mass of a plate is 399 g, what is its
volume? 18. Johari’s height and mass increase as he grows
bigger. Do you think his height and mass are in
15. The vertical falling distance of a ball is directly direct proportion? Give reasons for your answer.
proportional to the square of the time of falling.
The ball falls 80 m in 4 seconds. 19. The time taken for a planet to revolve around
(a) Find the vertical falling distance in 6 seconds. the Sun is called the period of the planet.
(b) If the ball is dropped from a height of 245 m, The following table gives the mean distance
find the time it takes to hit the ground. (d 3 106 km) and the period ( p years) of the eight
planets.
16. The period (the time taken for one complete
oscillation) of a simple pendulum is directly Mean distance Period
Planet
proportional to the square root of its length. (d  106 km) ( p years)
When its length is 1.02 m, its period is 2.01 Mercury 57.91 0.241
seconds. Find
Venus 108.21 0.615
(a) the period of the pendulum when its length
is 0.8 m, Earth 149.60 1.0
(b) the length of the pendulum when its period Mars 227.94 1.88
is 1.0 second.
Give your answers correct to two decimal places. Jupiter 778.41 11.86
Saturn 1426.73 29.46
Uranus 2870.97 84.01
Neptune 4498.25 164.79
length
An astronomer found that dm and pn, where m and
n are certain positive integers, have a proportional
relationship. What is this relationship?

1.3 Inverse Proportion

A Inverse Proportion and its Graphical Representation

We have learnt that when two quantities x and y are in direct proportion, both x and
y increase (or decrease) at the same rate. However, in our daily life, we do come across
situations where an increase in one quantity results in a corresponding decrease in
another related quantity or vice-versa. For instance, when a motorist travels at a higher
speed, the time taken to cover a certain distance is reduced.

23
 4
Objective: To examine and make sense of the concept of inverse proportion using tables,
equations and graphs.

Questions
A fixed amount of water is poured into individual containers of various uniform cross-sections.
The following table shows the correspondence between the cross-sectional area (x cm2) of each
container and the depth ( y cm) of water in it.

Cross-sectional area (x cm2) 10 20 30 40 50 60

Depth of water ( y cm) 36 18 12 9 7.2 6

1
1. Copy and complete the following table. Give the values of correct to 3 decimal places.
x

x 10 20 30 40 50 60
y 36 18 12 9 7.2 6
1
x y

xy  

2. Plot the corresponding points (x, y) in Question 1. You may use the scale for both axes as
shown below.

50

40
Depth of water (cm)

30

20

10

x
O 10 20 30 40 50 60
Cross-sectional area (cm2)

3. What can you say about the points you have plotted in Question 2?
4. What happens to the depth of the water as the cross-sectional area of a container increases?

Chapter 1 Proportion
24
 1
5. Plot the corresponding points , y in y
x
Question 1. You may use the scales for both
50
axes as shown on the right.
40
6. What can you say about the points you have

Depth of water (cm)

plotted in Question 5?
30
7. Suggest an equation connecting x and y.
8. How would you find the value of y when 20
x = 80? State the value you have found
and compare your method with your 10
classmates.
1
x
O 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1
1
( cm1
(
Cross-sectional area 2

In Class Activity 4, we have

xy = 10  36 = 20  18 = ... = 60  6 = 360,
which is a constant.

We say that the cross-sectional area (x cm2) of the container and the depth (y cm) of
water in it are in inverse proportion.

In Questions 2 and 5 of Class Activity 4, when the plotted points on each graph are
joined with a smooth curve, the graphs look like Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 respectively. The graph
1
REMARK
of y against x is plotted in Fig. 1 and the graph of y against is plotted in Fig. 2. Note The reciprocal of a number x
x
the difference in the graphs when different axes are used. 1
is . For example, the
x
1
reciprocal of 4 is .
y 4
y

REMARK
Fig. 1 shows that y and x
are in inverse proportion,
whereas Fig. 2 shows
x 1 1
O x that y and are in direct
O x
proportion.

Fig. 1 Fig. 2

Do you know why the graph of y against x is a curve and not a straight line? The curve
approaches the y-axis when x is small, and it tends to the x-axis as x increases. This
curve is called a hyperbola.
1
The graph of y against is part of a straight line which passes through the origin. Since
x
1
is never zero, the origin is NOT included in the graph. This is indicated by a small
x
circle at the origin.

25
 From Question 1, the equation connecting x and y is
xy = 360
1
y = 360  ,
x
1
that is y = 360 or y = 360 .
x x

When two quantities, x and y, are in inverse proportion, we have

xy = k, where k is a constant,
1
that is y =k .
x

In Class Activity 4, the constant k = 360.

DISCUSS
1
Hence, xy = 360 or y = 360 or y = 360 . In the equation
x x xy = 360, what does 360
represent?
The formal definition of inverse proportion is as follows.

Two variables x and y are in inverse proportion if xy is a constant.

Example 11 A car travels uniformly from A to B. The following table shows the
time taken (t hours) at various speeds (v km/h).

Speed (v km/h) 20 40 50 80 100 120

2
Time taken (t hours) 10 5 4 2.5 2 1
3

(a) Show that t and v are in inverse proportion.

(b) Draw the graph of t against v.
1
(c) Draw the graph of t against .
v
(d) Find the equation connecting t and v.
(e) Find the time taken when the speed is 90 km/h.

Solution (a)
v 20 40 50 80 100 120
2
t 10 5 4 2.5 2 1
3

vt 200 200 200 200 200 200

1
v
0.05 0.025 0.02 0.013 0.01 0.008

In the above table, vt = 200 is a constant.

1
\ t = 200 3
v
Hence, t and v are in inverse proportion.

Chapter 1 Proportion
26
 (b) The graph of t against v is shown below.
t

10

Time taken (hours)

6

v
O 20 40 60 80 100 120
Speed (km/h)

1
(c) The graph of t against is shown below.
v

10

8
REMARK
Time taken (hours)

6 In (b), t and v are in inverse

proportion, whereas in (c),
1
4 t and are in direct
v
proportion.
2

1
v
O 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05
1 1
Speed km/h

The small circle at the origin O indicates that the point (0, 0)
is not included in the straight line graph.

(d) From (a), the equation connecting t and v is

1
t = 200 3 .
v

(e) When v = 90,

1
t = 200 3 (substitution)
90
2
t =2 .
9
2
When the speed is 90 km/h, the time taken is 2 hours.
9
1
Note: In the equation t = 200 3 , the value 200 represents the
v
distance between A and B in km.

27
 Try It! 11 The following table shows the corresponding volume (V cm3) of air
inside a syringe when the air pressure is P units.
Pressure (P units) 1 2 3 4 5 6 REMARK
Volume (V cm3) 120 60 40 30 24 20 The equation PV = constant
is called Boyle’s law in
(a) Show that P and V are in inverse proportion. physics.
(b) Draw the graph of V against P.
1
(c) Draw the graph of V against .
P
(d) Find the equation connecting P and V.
(e) Find the volume of air when the air pressure is 8 units.

From Class Activity 4 and Example 11, we observe that inverse proportion has the
following properties.

When two quantities, x and y, are in inverse proportion:

1
• y = k x , where k is a constant and k ≠ 0
• the graph of y against x is a curve called a hyperbola
1
• the graph of y against is part of a straight line passing
x
through but not including the origin

Example 12 A piece of string is cut into two pieces of lengths x cm and y cm

long. The following table shows some corresponding values of x
and y.
x 1 3 5 6 8
y 9 7 5 4 2

(a) Plot the graph of y against x.

(b) Determine whether x and y are in inverse proportion.

Solution (a) The following diagram shows the graph of y against x.

y

10

x
O 2 4 6 8 10

Chapter 1 Proportion
28
 (b) The graph of y against x is not a hyperbola.
Moreover, when x = 1 and y = 9, xy = 1 3 9 = 9;
when x = 3 and y = 7, xy = 3 3 7 = 21.
Since xy is not constant,
\ y ≠ k 1 for some constant k.

x
Hence, x and y are not in inverse proportion.
Note: 1. When y decreases as x increases, it is not necessary that
x and y are in inverse proportion.
2. In this example, the equation connecting x and y is
x + y = 10, where 10 is the length of the string in cm.

Try It! 12 The total value of x $2 notes and y $1 coins in a wallet is $15. The
following table shows some corresponding values of x and y.

x 1 3 4 5 6
y 13 9 7 5 3

(a) Plot the graph of y against x.

(b) Determine whether x and y are in inverse proportion.

Example 13 The time taken, t hours, to do a paint job is inversely proportional

to the number of workers, N. Given that 9 workers take 20 hours
to complete a job, find the time taken by 6 workers to complete the
same job.

Solution Method 1
Since t and N are in inverse proportion,

t = k 3 1 , where k is a constant.

N
When N = 9, t = 20.
1
\ 20 = k 
9
k = 180

When N = 6,
1
t = 180  ,
6
t = 30.
The time taken by 6 workers to complete the job is 30 hours.
Note: The constant term 180 means that it takes 180 man-hours
to complete the paint job.

29
 Method 2
Let a hours be the time taken by 6 workers to complete the same job.
Since t and N are in inverse proportion,
tN = constant.

\ a  6 = 20  9 Substitute t = a and N = 6.
20  9
a=
6
a = 30
The time taken by 6 workers to complete the job is 30 hours.

Try It! 13 A large bottle of soft drink is shared equally among n boys. Each
boy drinks V cm3 of the soft drink. It is known that n and V are in
inverse proportion. When there are 6 boys sharing the drink, each
boy has 250 cm3 of it. How much can each boy drink when there
are 10 boys?

B Other Forms of Inverse Proportion

We have learnt that when y is inversely proportional to x, we have
1
xy = k or y = k x , where k is a constant and k ≠ 0.

Hence, if y is inversely proportional to x2, then

1
x2y = k or y = k , where k is a constant and k ≠ 0.
x2

Example 14 For each of the following equations, determine which two variables
are inversely proportional to each other.
6 10
(a) y= (b) y = 2
x ( x + 1)
1
(c) y3 = (d) y = 2x
x2

6
Solution (a) y=
x

1
i.e. y =6
x

We have y x = 6 which is a constant.

\ y is inversely proportional to x .

10
(b) y=
( x + 1)2

1
i.e. y = 10
( x + 1)2

y(x + 1)2 = 10 is a constant.
\ y is inversely proportional to (x + 1)2.

Chapter 1 Proportion
30
 1
(c) y3 = 2
x
1
i.e. y3 = 1
x2
y3x2 = 1 is a constant.
\ y3 is inversely proportional to x2.

(d) y = 2x
1
i.e. y =2 1
x
1
y = 2 is a constant.
x
1

\ y is inversely proportional to .
x

Try It! 14 For each of the following equations, determine which two variables
are inversely proportional to each other.
2 1
(a) y= (b) y2 =
3
x +1 x −1

(c) y+1 = 52 (d) y = 8x2

x

Example 15 The intensity of illumination from a desk-lamp on a book is inversely

proportional to the square of the distance of the book from the lamp.
When the book is 40 cm from the lamp, the intensity of illumination
is 360 lux. Find the intensity of illumination when the book is
30 cm from the lamp.

Solution Method 1
Let the intensity of illumination be I lux when the book is d cm
from the lamp. REMARK
Since I and d 2 are in inverse proportion, The lux is the unit
1 of measurement for

I = k  2 , where k is a constant. illuminance and luminous
d
emittance. It can measure
When d = 40, I = 360. the brightness of a light
1 source.
\ 360 = k  2
40
k = 360  402
= 576 000
When d = 30,
1
I = 576 000 3
302
= 640.
The required intensity of illumination is 640 lux.

31
 Method 2
Let x lux be the intensity of illumination when the book is
30 cm from the lamp.
Since I and d  2 are in inverse proportion,
Id 2 = constant.
x  302 = 360  402  Subsitute I = x and d = 30.
360  1600
x=
900
= 640
The required intensity of illumination is 640 lux.

Try It! 15 When a jug of water is poured into a cylinder, the depth of water
is inversely proportional to the square of the base radius of the
cylinder. When the radius is 3 cm, the depth of water is 24 cm. Find
the depth when the radius is 6 cm.

EXERCISE 1.3
LEVEL 1 2. In each of the following graphs, determine
whether x and y are in inverse proportion. Explain
1. In each of the following tables of values, determine
your answer.
whether x and y are in inverse proportion. Explain
your answer. (a) y

(a) x 1 2 3 4 30

y 12 10 8 6
20

(b) 10
x 2 4 6 8
y 12 6 4 3 x
O 2 4 6

(c) x 10 20 25 40 y
(b)
y 60 30 24 15
30

(d) 20
x 12 15 18 24
y 30 24 18 15 10

1
O 0.1 0.2 0.3
x

Chapter 1 Proportion
32
3. In each of the following equations, determine 7. The following table shows the number of trees
whether x and y are in inverse proportion. Explain ( y) required to be planted on a hillside when the
your answer. distance between two adjacent trees is x m.
(a) xy = 20 (b) x – y = 20
18 1 x 1 2 3 5 6
(c) y= (d) y = +1
x x
y 900 225 100 36 25
4. Given that two quantities, x and y, are in inverse
proportion, find the values of p and q in the (a) Is y inversely proportional to x?
following table. (b) Is y inversely proportional to x2?
(c) Find an equation connecting x and y.
x 32 20 q (d) Find the number of trees required when
x = 1.5.
y 5 p 16
8. For each of the following equations, determine
5. It is given that z is inversely proportional to t and which two terms are inversely proportional to
z = 28 when t = 9. each other. Explain your answer.
(a) Find the value of z when t = 12, 1
(a) d2 = 1 (b) W =
(b) Find the value of t when z = 36. x 2( p + 1)
4
(c) What is the change in the value of z when (c) m+3= (d) y = 3 x
y2
the value of t is doubled?
9. It is given that D is inversely proportional to m
and D = 64 when m = 9. Find
LEVEL 2 (a) the value of D when m = 4,
(b) the value of m when D = 32,
6. The diagram shows a lever system with a load (c) the change in the value of D when the value
that is balanced by a mass, m grams, at a distance, of m is multiplied by 4.
d cm, from the fulcrum.
10. The number of pages, N, of a presentation is
d cm inversely proportional to the number of lines,
L, per page. If there are 12 lines per page, the
fulcrum presentation has 30 pages.
(a) Write down an equation connecting N and L
load
in the form NL = k, where k is a constant.
(b) Interpret the meaning of k found in (a).
mass = m g (c) If there are 15 lines per page, find the number
of pages of the presentation.
The following table shows various pairs of values

LEVEL 3
of d and m.

d (cm) 10 20 30 40 50
11. The rate of water delivered and the time taken to
m (grams) 60 30 20 15 12 fill up a tank are in inverse proportion. If the rate is
16 l/min, the time taken is 20 minutes. If the rate
(a) Show that d and m are in inverse proportion. is 40 l/min, find the time taken.
(b) Draw the graph of m against d.
(c) Draw the graph of m against
1
. 12. The frequency of sound emitted by a string is
d inversely proportional to the length of the string.
(d) Find the equation connecting d and m.
When the string is 50 cm long, the frequency of
(e) Find the value of m when d = 25.
sound is 256 Hz. Find
(a) the frequency of sound when the string is
40 cm long,
(b) the length of the string when the frequency
of sound is 400 Hz.
33
 13. The force of attraction between two magnets is
inversely proportional to the square of the distance
between them. When their distance apart is 3 cm,
the force of attraction is 56 Newtons. Find
(a) the force of attraction when the distance
apart is 2 cm,
(b) the distance apart when the force of
attraction is 14 Newtons.
14. When a toy car is released from a spring, the
speed of the car is inversely proportional to the
square root of its mass. When the mass is 49 g, the
speed is 6.4 m/s. Find
(a) the speed when its mass is 36 g,
(b) the mass when its speed is 5.6 m/s.
15. In the course of your science experiments, you
would have come across two quantities that are
in inverse proportion. Show how these quantities
are related, using a graph.

16. If 12 workers take 100 days to build a house, is it

true that 1200 workers will take 1 day to build the
house? Explain briefly.
e ll
sh
ut

a N Map Scale
I n • Scale = Map length : Actual length

= 1 : r or 1
r

• Area on a map : Actual area = 1 : r   2

Direct Proportion
When two quantities, x and y, are in direct proportion,
y y
• y = kx i.e. = k , x ≠ 0 where k is a constant and k ≠ 0,
x
y = kx
• the graph of y against x is a straight line passing through
the origin. O x

Inverse Proportion
When two quantities, x and y, are in inverse proportion, y
1
• y=k (i.e. xy = k), where k is a constant and k ≠ 0, y=k 1
x
x 

• the graph of y against x is a curve called a hyperbola.

O x

Chapter 1 Proportion
34
REVISION EXERCISE 1
1. The scale of a floor plan is 1 cm to 2 m. Find 6.
The mass of a model car is directly proportional
(a) the scale of the plan in the form
1
, to the cube of its length. When the length is 6 cm,
r its mass is 96 g.
(b) the length of a hallway on the map, in cm, if (a) Find the length of the model car when its
its actual length is 4 m, mass is 324 g.
(c) the actual area of a rectangular bedroom, in (b) The scale of the model car is 1 : 50. The length
m2, if its dimensions on the map are 2 cm by of the real car is 4 m. Find
1.5 cm. (i) the length of the model car in cm,
(ii) the mass of the model car, correct to
2. A map is drawn to the scale 1 : 4000. the nearest gram.
(a) The length of a road on the map is 3.5 cm.
Find its actual length in m. 7. The following table shows some corresponding
(b) The area of a garden is 20 000 m2. Find the values of two quantities, x and y.
area of the garden on the map in cm2.
x 0 1 2 3 4
3.
The scale of map A is 1 : 5000 and the scale of
map B is 1 : 3000. y 0 2 8 18 32
(a) The distance between two schools on map A
is 6 cm. Find their distance apart on map B. (a) Draw the graph of y against x.
(b) The area of a lake on map B is 18 cm2. Find (b) Draw the graph of y against x2.
(i) the actual area of the lake, in m2, (c) State the relationship between x and y.
(ii) the area of the lake on map A in cm2. (d) Write down an equation connecting x and y.
(e) Find the value of y when x = 2.5.
4. A carat is a measure of mass used for gemstones.
The following table shows the conversion between 8. When a car is travelling steadily along a highway,
carats and grams. its consumption of petrol is directly proportional
Gram (x) 2 4 6 8 10 to the distance travelled. A car travels 100 km on
8 litres of petrol. Find
Carat (y) 10 20 30 40 50 (a) the petrol consumption of the car for a
distance of 60 km,
(a) Show that x and y are in direct proportion. (b) the maximum distance that the car can
(b) Draw the graph of y against x. travel with 40 litres of petrol.
(c) Find the equation connecting x and y.
(d) The mass of a piece of diamond is 3 grams. 9. The current, I amperes, of a circuit is inversely
How many carats is this? proportional to the resistance, R ohms, of the
circuit. If I = 0.5 when R = 24, find
5. The cost $C of a metal pipe is directly proportional (a) the current passing through the circuit when
to its length x cm. When the length is 30 cm, its its resistance is 40 ohms,
cost is $2. (b) the resistance of the circuit if the current is
(a) Find the length of a metal pipe if its cost is 20 amperes.
$15.
(b) Metal pipes are used to make the frame of 10. Mr Tan invested a fixed sum to buy shares from
a cuboid that measures 25 cm by 20 cm by the stock market. When the price of each share
15 cm. Find the total cost of the pipes used. is $7.20, he can buy 5000 shares.
(a) Find the amount of this fixed sum.
15 (b) Explain why the price of each share and
the number of shares bought are in inverse
proportion in this case.
25 (c) If the price of each share is $9.00, find the
20 number of shares that Mr Tan can buy.

35
 11. The number of buckets, y, of water required to fill 13. Suppose the amount of food served to each person
up a tank is inversely proportional to the capacity, at a party is inversely proportional to the number
x litres, of the bucket. It is given that y = 28 when of people who attended the party. When there
x = 9. are 25 people at the party, each person will have
(a) Write down an equation connecting x and y 1.2 kg of food.
in the form xy = k, where k is a constant. (a) If there are 60 people, find the amount of
(b) Interpret the meaning of k found in (a). food each person is served.
(c) Complete the following table. (b) How many people are there at the party if
each person is served 0.4 kg of food?
x 4 6 7 12
y 14. The dimensions of a rectangle are x cm by y cm.
It is given that x and y are in inverse proportion,
1 and y = 20 when x = 36.
x
(a) Find the equation connecting x and y.
(b) Find the value of y when x = 24.
1
(d) Draw the graph of y against for (c) Find the value of x when y = 15.
x
1 1 (d) What can you say about the area of the
0 , < .
x 4 rectangle?

12. The time, t minutes, taken to download a file
from a computer is inversely proportional to the
Internet connection speed, v Mbps. When the
speed is 1.5 Mbps, the time taken is 12 seconds.
(a) Find the time taken when the speed is
12 Mbps.
(b) If the speed is increased by 25%, find the
percentage change in the time taken.
15. The intensity of radiation is inversely proportional
to the square of the distance from a radioactive
source. When the distance is 4 m, the intensity of
radiation is 900 units. Find
(a) the intensity of radiation when the distance
from its source is 5 m,
(b) the distance from the source if its intensity
of radiation is 1600 units.

Write in Your Journal

1. (a) How do you think the scale on maps are used in our daily life?
(b) When you draw a map, is there any difference between a scale of 1 : 5000 and a scale of
1 : 500 000? Explain your reasons using examples.

2.List three equations in which two variables are

(a) directly proportional to each other,
(b) inversely proportional to each other.

Chapter 1 Proportion
36