Direct Variation

What is it and how do I know when I see it?

Definition:
Y varies directly as x means that y = kx
where k is the constant of variation.
(see any similarities to y = mx + b?)
y
Another way of writing this is k =
x
In other words:
* the constant of variation (k) in a direct
variation is the constant (unchanged) ratio of two
variable quantities.
 Examples of Direct Variation:
Note: X increases,
X Y
6 12 6,7,8
7 14 And Y increases.
8 16
12, 14, 16

What is the constant of variation of the table above?

y
Since y = kx we can say k  Therefore:
x
12/6=k or k = 2 14/7=k or k = 2 y = 2x is the
equation!
16/8=k or k =2 Note k stays constant.
 Examples of Direct Variation:
Note: X decreases,
X Y 10, 5, 3
10 30 And Y decreases.
5 15
30, 15, 9
3 9

What is the constant of variation of the table above?

y
Since y = kx we can say k  Therefore:
x
30/10=k or k = 3 15/5=k or k = 3 y = 3x is the
equation!
9/3=k or k =3 Note k stays constant.
 Examples of Direct Variation:
Note: X decreases,
X Y -4, -16, -40
-4 -1
And Y decreases.
-16 -4
-1,-4,-10
-40 -10

What is the constant of variation of the table above?

y
Since y = kx we can say k  Therefore:
x y = ¼ x is the
-1/-4=k or k = ¼ -4/-16=k or k = ¼
equation!
-10/-40=k or k = ¼ Note k stays constant.
What is the constant of variation for the
following direct variation?
X Y
1. 2 4 -8
2. -2 8 -16
-6 12
3. -½ 3 -6

4. ½

Answer
Now 0% 0% 0% 0%

½
2

-½
-2
Is this a direct variation? If yes, give the
constant of variation (k) and the equation.

X Y Yes!
4 6 k = 6/4 or 3/2
8 12
Equation?
12 18
y = 3/2 x
18 27
Is this a direct variation? If yes, give the
constant of variation (k) and the equation.

X Y Yes!
10 25
k = 25/10 or 5/2
6 15
k = 10/4 or 5/2
4 10
2 5 Equation?
y = 5/2 x
Is this a direct variation? If yes, give the
constant of variation (k) and the equation.

X Y No!
15 5
The k values are
3 26 different!
1 75
2 150
Which of the following is a direct variation?

1. A
2. B
3. C Answer
4. D Now

0% 0% 0% 0%
A

D
Which is the equation that describes the
following table of values?
1. y = -2x X Y
2. y = 2x 10 5
2 1
3. y= ½x 12 6
4. xy = 200 20 10

Answer
0% 0% 0% 0%
Now

x
x

2x

0
-2

20
½
=
=

=
=
y
y

xy
y
Using Direct Variation to find unknowns (y = kx)
Given that y varies directly with x, and y = 28 when x=7,
Find x when y = 52. HOW???

2 step process
X Y
1. Find the constant variation
7 28
k = y/x or k = 28/7 = 4
k=4 ? 52

2. Use y = kx. Find the unknown (x).

Therefore:
52= 4x or 52/4 = x
X =13 when Y=52
x= 13
Using Direct Variation to find unknowns (y = kx)
Given that y varies directly with x, and y = 3 when x=9,
Find y when x = 40.5. HOW???

2 step process X Y
1. Find the constant variation.
9 3
k = y/x or k = 3/9 = 1/3
40.5 ?
K = 1/3
2. Use y = kx. Find the unknown (x).
Therefore:
y= (1/3)40.5
X =40.5 when
y= 13.5 Y=13.5
 Using Direct Variation to find unknowns (y = kx)
Given that y varies directly with x, and y = 6 when x=-5,
Find y when x = -8. HOW???

2 step process
X Y
1. Find the constant variation.
-5 6
k = y/x or k = 6/-5 = -1.2
k = -1.2 -8 ?
2. Use y = kx. Find the unknown (x).
y= -1.2(-8) Therefore:

x= 9.6 X =-8 when Y=9.6

Using Direct Variation to solve word problems
Problem: Step One: Find points in table
A car uses 8 gallons of
gasoline to travel 290 X (gas) Y (miles)
miles. How much 8 290
gasoline will the car use ? 400
to travel 400 miles?

Step Two: Find the constant Step Three: Use the equation
variation and equation: to find the unknown.
400 =36.25x
k = y/x or k = 290/8 or 36.25 400 =36.25x
y = 36.25 x 36.25 36.25
or x = 11.03
Using Direct Variation to solve word problems

Problem:
Step One: Find points in table.
Julio wages vary
directly as the number X(hours) Y(wages)
of hours that he works. 5 29.75
If his wages for 5 hours 30 ?
are $29.75, how much
will they be for 30 hours
Step Three: Use the equation
to find the unknown. y=kx
Step Two: Find the constant
y=5.95(30) or Y=178.50
variation.
k = y/x or k = 29.75/5 = 5.95
 Direct Variation and its graph

y = mx +b,
m = slope and b = y-intercept

With direction variation the equation

is y = kx

Note: m = k or the constant and b = 0 therefore the graph will

always go through…
the ORIGIN!!!!!
Tell if the following graph is a Direct Variation or not.

Yes
No

No No
Tell if the following graph is a Direct Variation or not.

No Yes

Yes No