DIRECT VARIATION

Lesson Menu
✓ Five-Minute Check (over Lesson )
✓ Recall the following concept
• Slope and Constant of Variation
• Graph of a Direct Variation
• Write and Solve a Direct Variation Equation
• Real-World Example: Estimate Using Direct
Variation
Match each verbal phrase to its corresponding mathematical symbol.
1. The number of minutes (m) spent in reading is 2 times
the number of pages (p) read .
2. The cost ( C ) of fish is 90 times the weight ( w ) in kilograms.
3. The rate (r) of work done by n people in h hours
4. The time (t) spent to travel 80 km at x kph.
5. The fare ( f ) is 9 times the number (n) of kilometer covered.
Which shows direct variation?
A. The time (t) required to perform the given amount
of work to the number of persons (p) working.
not direct variation - When the number of persons working on a certain amount
of work, increases, the time for them to finish that work
decreases.

B. The circumference (C) of a circle to its diameter (d).

This shows direct variation C = 𝜋𝑑, so the circumference of a circle is directly
proportional to its diameter
If x and y are directly proportional and
when x = 13, y = 39, which of the following
is not a possible pair of corresponding
values of x and y ?

A. 1 and 3
B. 17 and 51
C. 30 and 10
D. 6 and 18
VARIATION - It is the relationship between two or more
quantities where one quantity varies in relation to the other.
It has the following types:
• Direct Variation
• Inverse Variation
• Joint Variation
• Combined Variation

It can be represented through the following:

• Statement Form • Equation Form
• Tabular Form • Graphical Form
Direct variation is a relationship between two
quantities, x and y, where, as x increases y also
increases or as y decreases, x also decreases
by a specific amount, called a constant .
Another way to describe this relationship is that
“y varies directly as x” or “y varies with x.”
Or “y is directly proportional to x”

So, if y varies directly as x, then we say 𝒚 = 𝒌𝒙

By Proportionality, the formula is: 𝒚𝟏 𝒚𝟐
=
𝒙𝟏 𝒙𝟐
In a direct variation where k is positive,
✓ when x increases, y also increases by a constant
amount
✓ when x decreases, y also decreases by a constant
amount

Examples:
▪ The cost (c) of chicken varies directly as its weight (w).
▪ The total cost paid is directly proportional to the number
of oranges bought.
▪ The area (A) of a triangle is proportional to its height (h).
The total cost (C) of rice per kilogram
varies directly as the number of kilos (n) .
Which of the following equations describes
the relation?

A. n = kC
𝒌
B. n =
𝒄
C. C =kn
𝒌
D. C =
𝒏
Let’s do these!

1. Regina walked 9 miles in 3 hours. How many

miles did she walk per hour?

3 mi per hour

2. To make 3 bowls of trail mix, Sandra needs 15

ounces of nuts. How many ounces of nuts does
she need for 1 bowl of trail mix?

5 oz
Suppose y varies directly as x, and y = 15 when
x = 5. Write a direct variation equation that relates
x and y.

A.y = 3x
𝒚
• The constant k of y to x, 𝒌 = ,
B.y = 15x 𝒙
remains the same for all pairs of
corresponding values of x and y.
C.y = 5x

D.y = 45x
If 12 workers can make 120 native baskets a
day, how many workers are needed to
complete a daily order of 300 baskets?

Solution:
The number of workers (w) varies directly as the number of
native baskets (b) that can be made.
𝒚𝟏 𝒚𝟐
=
Let 𝒙𝟏 = 12 and 𝒚𝟏 = 120; 𝒙𝟏 𝒙𝟐
Solve for 𝒙𝟐 when 𝒚𝟐 = 300
𝟏𝟐𝟎 𝟑𝟎𝟎
𝒙𝟐 = 30 workers
=
𝟏𝟐 𝒙𝟐
Direct variation can also be defined as a linear relationship
between two variable that can be written in the form

𝒚 = 𝒌𝒙, where 𝒌 ≠ 𝟎.
y
𝒌 = shows that the ratio of y to x is constant
x

The fixed number 𝒌 in a direct variation equation is the

constant of variation or the constant of the proportionality.
Tell whether each equation represents a direct
variation. If so, identify the constant of variation.

y+8=x y=x–8 The equation is not in

the form y = kx,
y + 3 = 3x y = 3x – 3 not a direct variation.

3y = 2x y =2 x direct variation k=
2
3 3

4y = 3x y=3 x direct variation 3

4 k=
4
Tell whether each set of data represents a direct
variation. If so, identify the constant of variation and
then write the direct variation equation.
Weight (oz) 2 3 4
Price (c) 69 99 129

y
Find for each ordered pair.
x
y = 69 y = 99 = 33 y = 129
x 2 x 3 x 4

k is not the same for each ordered pair.

The data does not represent a direct variation.
Tell whether each set of data represents a direct variation. If so,
identify the constant of variation and then write the direct
variation equation.
Inches 1 2 5
Centimeters 2.54 5.08 12.70

y
Find for each ordered pair.
x
y 2.54 y 5.08 y 12.7 = 2.54
x = = 2.54 = = 2.54 =
1 x 2 x 5

k = 2.54 for each ordered pair.

The data represent a direct variation where k = 2.54.

The equation is y = 2.54x
What is the equation that relates x to y in
the given set?
A = {(1,9), (2, 18), (3,27),(4,36), (5,45)}

A. x = 9y
𝒙
B. y =
𝟗
C. y = 9x
𝟗
D. x =
𝒚
 𝒙 and 𝒇(𝒙) are directly related.
If 𝒇(−𝟒) = 𝟐𝟎 and 𝒇(𝟓) = 𝒃, 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒃.

𝒚𝟏 𝒚𝟐
=
𝒙𝟏 𝒙𝟐
𝟐𝟎 𝒃
=
−𝟒 𝟓

b = − 𝟐𝟓
Tell whether each graph represents a direct
variation. If so, identify the constant of
variation and then write the direct variation
equation.
y

▪ The line does not 4

pass through at 2

(0, 0). x

–2 0 2 4
▪ This is not a –4
–2
direct variation.
–4
Direct variation equations are of the form y = kx
where k ≠ 0.
The graph of a direct variation (proportional relationship)
of the form y = kx is a straight line that passes through
the origin (0,0).

Thus, graphically, the slope, k, when y intercept is 0, represents a

constant rate of change.

increases decreases
Tell whether each graph represents a direct
variation. If so, identify the constant of variation
y
and then write the direct variation equation.

4
✓ The graph of a line
passes through at (0, 0)
2
and decreasing
infinitely.
x
✓ This is a direct variation. –4 –2
0
2 4

✓ And the Slope of the line –2

is -½, so k = –½ .
𝟏
✓ The equation is y = - 𝒙 –4
𝟐
Slope and Constant of Variation
Find the constant of variation for
the equation and the slope of the
line that passes through the pair of
points.

Slope formula

(x1, y1) = (0, 0)

(x2, y2) = (1, 2)

The constant of variation is 2.

The slope is 2.
Slope and Constant of Variation

Find the constant of variation for

the equation and the slope of the
line that passes through the pair of
points.

Slope formula
(x1, y1) = (0, 0)
(x2, y2) = (1, –4)

The constant of variation is –4.

The slope is –4.
 Find the constant of variation
for the equation and the slope
of the line that passes through
the pair of points.

A. constant of variation: 3; slope: 3

B. constant of variation: slope:

C. constant of variation: 0; slope: 0

D. constant of variation: –3; slope: –3

 Find the constant of variation
for the equation and the slope
of the line that passes through
the pair of points.
A. constant of variation: 4; slope: –4

B. constant of variation: 4; slope: 4

C. constant of variation: –4; slope: –4

D. constant of variation: slope:

Use the graph that shows the
number of laps completed
over time. Find the slope of
the line and its equation.
The Slope of the
line is 𝟓 𝟏
𝟏𝟎
=
𝟐

Hence, k =
1 𝟏
The equation is y = 𝒙
2 𝟐
 Amy is depositing money into a bank account.
After 3 months there is $135 in the account. After
6 months, there is $270 in the account. Find the
constant rate of change of the account.

Increasing by $45 per month

At 1 P.M., the level of the water in the pool was
12 feet. At 5 P.M., the level of water was 4 feet.
Find the constant rate of change of the water.

Decreasing 2 feet per hour

A car covers a distance in 40 minutes with an average
speed of 60 km per hour. The average speed to cover
the same distance in 30 minutes is
A. 80 km/h Speed = Distance / Time
B. 70 km/h Speed = 60 km/hr
Time: 40 minutes Distance = ?
C. 45/2 km/h
Time: 30 minutes
D. 45 km/h Ave speed with same distance =?
A car covers a distance in 40 minutes with an average
speed of 60 km per hour. The average speed to cover
the same distance in 30 minutes is
Speed = Distance / Time
Speed = 60 km/hr
Time: 40 minutes Distance = ?
Time: 30 minutes
Ave speed with same distance =?
The average speed to cover the same
distance in 30 minutes is 80 km/hr.
A car covers a distance in 30 minutes with an average
speed of 56 km per hour. The average speed to cover
the same distance in 24 minutes is
A. 75 km/h
B. 70 km/h
C. 65 km/h
D. 60 km/h
The average speed to cover the same
distance in 24 minutes is 70 km/hr.