13-7 Inverse Variation

Warm Up
Problem of the Day
Lesson Presentation

Course 3
13-7 Inverse Variation

Warm Up
Find f(–4), f(0), and f(3) for each
quadratic function.

1. f(x) = x2 + 4 20, 4, 13
2. f(x) = 1 x2 9
4, 0, 4
4
3. f(x) = 2x2 – x + 3 39, 3, 18

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13-7 Inverse Variation

Problem of the Day

Use the digits 1–8 to fill in 3 pairs of
values in the table of a direct variation
function. Use each digit exactly once.
The 2 and 3 have already been used.
8 56
1 4 7

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13-7 Inverse Variation

Learn to recognize inverse variation by

graphing tables of data.

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 Insert Lesson
13-7 Inverse Title Here
Variation

Vocabulary
Inverse variation

Course 3
13-7 Inverse Variation

INVERSE VARIATION
Words Numbers Algebra

An inverse variation
120 k
is a relationship in y= y=
x x
which one variable
quantity increases as
another variable
quantity decreases.
The product of the xy = 120 xy = k
variables is a constant.

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 WHAT IS INVERSE VARIATION?
When you decrease your speed, the time it
takes to arrive at that location increases.
So, the quantities
are inversely proportional. An inverse
variation can be expressed by the equation
xy=k or y=kx . That is, y varies inversely as x
if there is some non zero constant k such
that, xy = k or y=kx where x≠0 and y≠0 .
FORMULA
So, the quantities are inversely proportional.
An inverse variation can be represented by
the equation xy=k or y=kx . That is, y
varies inversely as x if there is some nonzero
constant k such that, xy=k or y=kx where
x≠0,y≠0 . Suppose y varies inversely as x
such that xy=3 or y=3x
13-7 Inverse Variation

Additional Example 1A: Identify Inverse Variation

Determine whether the relationship is an
inverse variation.
The table shows how 24 cookies can be
divided equally among different numbers of
students.
Number of Students 2 3 4 6 8
Number of Cookies 12 8 6 4 3
2(12) = 24; 3(8) = 24; 4(6) = 24; 6(4) = 24; 8(3) = 24
xy = 24 The product is always the same.
The relationship is an inverse variation: y = 24
x .
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13-7 Inverse Variation

Helpful Hint
To determine if a relationship is an
inverse variation, check if the product of
x and y is always the same number.

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13-7 Inverse Variation

Additional Example 1B: Identify Inverse Variation

Determine whether each relationship is an
inverse variation.
The table shows the number of cookies that
have been baked at different times.
Number of Students 12 24 36 48 60
Time (min) 15 30 45 60 75

The product is not

12(15) = 180; 24(30) = 720
always the same.

The relationship is not an inverse variation.

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13-7 Inverse Variation

Check It Out: Example 1A

Determine whether the relationship is an

inverse variation.

x 30 20 15 12 10
y 2 3 4 5 6

30(2) = 60; 20(3) = 60; 15(4) = 60; 12(5) = 60; 10(6) = 60

xy = 60 The product is always the same.

The relationship is an inverse variation: y = 60

x .

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13-7 Inverse Variation

Check It Out: Example 1B

Determine whether the relationship is an

inverse variation.

x 2 4 8 1 2
y 4 2 1 8 6

2(4) = 8; 2(6) = 12 The product is not

always the same.

The relationship is not an inverse variation.

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13-7 Inverse Variation
Additional Example 2A: Graphing Inverse Variations
Create a table. Then graph the inverse
variation function.
4 x y
f(x) =
x
–4 –1
–2 –2
–1 –4
1
– –8
2
1 8
2
1 4
2 2
4 1
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13-7 Inverse Variation
Additional Example 2B: Graphing Inverse Variations
Create a table. Then graph the inverse
variation function.
–1 x y
f(x) =
x –3 1
3
–2 1
2
–1 1
1
– 2
2
1 –2
2
1 –1
2 –1
2
3 –1
3
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13-7 Inverse Variation
Check It Out: Example 2A
Create a table. Then graph the inverse
variation function.
4 x y
f(x) = – x
–4 1
–2 2
–1 4
1
– 8
2
1 –8
2
1 –4
2 –2
4 –1
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13-7 Inverse Variation

Check It Out: Example 2B

Create a table. Then graph the inverse
variation function.
f(x) = 8 x y
x
–8 –1
–4 –2
–2 –4
–1 –8
1 8
2 4
4 2
8 1
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13-7 Inverse Variation

Additional Example 3: Application

As the pressure on the gas in a balloon
changes, the volume of the gas changes. Find
the inverse variation function and use it to
find the resulting volume when the pressure is
30 lb/in2.
Volume of Gas by Pressure on Gas
Pressure (lb/in2) 5 10 15 20
Volume (in3) 300 150 100 75
You can see from the table that xy = 5(300) = 1500,
so y = 1500 .
x
If the pressure on the gas is 30 lb/in2, then the
volume of the gas will be y = 1500 ÷ 30 = 50 in3.
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13-7 Inverse Variation
Check It Out: Example 3
An eighth grade class is renting a bus for a
field trip. The more students participating, the
less each student will have to pay. Find the
inverse variation function, and use it to find
the amount of money each student will have
to pay if 50 students participate.
Number of Students by Cost per Student
Students 10 20 25 40
Cost per student 20 10 8 5
You can see from the table that xy = 10(20) = 200, so
y = 200 .
x
If 50 students go on the field trip, the price per
student will be y = 200  50 = $4.
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13-7 Inverse
Insert Lesson
Variation
Title Here
Lesson Quiz: Part I

Tell whether each relationship is an inverse

variation.
1.
yes

2.
no

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13-7 Inverse
Insert Lesson
Variation
Title Here
Lesson Quiz: Part II

1 .
3. Graph the inverse variation function f(x) = 4x

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PROBLEM 1

If y varies inversely as x, and

y = 32 when x = 3, find x
when y = 15.
 PROBLEM 2

The frequency of a vibrating guitar string varies

inversely as its length. Suppose a guitar string
0.65 meters long vibrates 4.3 times per second.
What frequency would a string 0.5 meters long
have?
PROBLEM 3

If r varies inversely as the cube of

s, and r = 17 when s = 3, find r
when s = 2.
 PROBLEM 3

If g varies inversely as the square

root of h, and g = 9 when h = 121,
find g when h = 81.
 PROBLEM 4

The current in a simple electrical circuit is

inversely proportional to the resistance. If the
current is 80 amps when the resistance is 50
ohms, find the current when the resistance is
22 ohms.
 PROBLEM 5

The intensity of light produced by a light

source varies inversely as the square of the
distance from the source. If the intensity of
light produced 3 feet from a light source is
750 foot-candles, find the intensity of light
produced 5 feet from the same source.