# 5.8 Modeling using variation  (Page 3/14)

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A quantity $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}y\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ varies inversely with the square of $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x.\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ If $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}y=8\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ when $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x=3,\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ find $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}y\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ when $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ is 4.

$\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\frac{9}{2}\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$

## Solving problems involving joint variation

Many situations are more complicated than a basic direct variation or inverse variation model. One variable often depends on multiple other variables. When a variable is dependent on the product or quotient of two or more variables, this is called joint variation    . For example, the cost of busing students for each school trip varies with the number of students attending and the distance from the school. The variable $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}c,$ cost, varies jointly with the number of students, $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}n,$ and the distance, $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}d.\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$

## Joint variation

Joint variation occurs when a variable varies directly or inversely with multiple variables.

For instance, if $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ varies directly with both $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}y\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ and $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}z,\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ we have $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x=kyz.\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ If $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ varies directly with $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}y\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ and inversely with $z,$ we have $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x=\frac{ky}{z}.\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ Notice that we only use one constant in a joint variation equation.

## Solving problems involving joint variation

A quantity $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ varies directly with the square of $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}y\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ and inversely with the cube root of $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}z.\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ If $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x=6\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ when $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}y=2\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ and $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}z=8,\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ find $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ when $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}y=1\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ and $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}z=27.\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$

Begin by writing an equation to show the relationship between the variables.

$x=\frac{k{y}^{2}}{\sqrt[3]{z}}$

Substitute $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x=6,\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ $y=2,\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ and $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}z=8\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ to find the value of the constant $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}k.\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$

$\begin{array}{ccc}\hfill 6& =& \frac{k{2}^{2}}{\sqrt[3]{8}}\hfill \\ \hfill 6& =& \frac{4k}{2}\hfill \\ \hfill 3& =& k\hfill \end{array}$

Now we can substitute the value of the constant into the equation for the relationship.

$x=\frac{3{y}^{2}}{\sqrt[3]{z}}$

To find $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ when $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}y=1\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ and $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}z=27,\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ we will substitute values for $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}y\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ and $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}z\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ into our equation.

$\begin{array}{ccc}\hfill x& =& \hfill \frac{3{\left(1\right)}^{2}}{\sqrt[3]{27}}\\ & =& 1\hfill \end{array}$

A quantity $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ varies directly with the square of $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}y\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ and inversely with $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}z.\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ If $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x=40\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ when $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}y=4\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ and $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}z=2,\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ find $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ when $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}y=10\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ and $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}z=25.$

$\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x=20\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$

Access these online resources for additional instruction and practice with direct and inverse variation.

Visit this website for additional practice questions from Learningpod.

## Key equations

 Direct variation Inverse variation

## Key concepts

• A relationship where one quantity is a constant multiplied by another quantity is called direct variation. See [link] .
• Two variables that are directly proportional to one another will have a constant ratio.
• A relationship where one quantity is a constant divided by another quantity is called inverse variation. See [link] .
• Two variables that are inversely proportional to one another will have a constant multiple. See [link] .
• In many problems, a variable varies directly or inversely with multiple variables. We call this type of relationship joint variation. See [link] .

## Verbal

What is true of the appearance of graphs that reflect a direct variation between two variables?

The graph will have the appearance of a power function.

If two variables vary inversely, what will an equation representing their relationship look like?

Is there a limit to the number of variables that can vary jointly? Explain.

No. Multiple variables may jointly vary.

## Algebraic

For the following exercises, write an equation describing the relationship of the given variables.

sinx sin2x is linearly dependent
what is a reciprocal
The reciprocal of a number is 1 divided by a number. eg the reciprocal of 10 is 1/10 which is 0.1
Shemmy
Reciprocal is a pair of numbers that, when multiplied together, equal to 1. Example; the reciprocal of 3 is ⅓, because 3 multiplied by ⅓ is equal to 1
Jeza
each term in a sequence below is five times the previous term what is the eighth term in the sequence
I don't understand how radicals works pls
How look for the general solution of a trig function
stock therom F=(x2+y2) i-2xy J jaha x=a y=o y=b
sinx sin2x is linearly dependent
cr
root under 3-root under 2 by 5 y square
The sum of the first n terms of a certain series is 2^n-1, Show that , this series is Geometric and Find the formula of the n^th
cosA\1+sinA=secA-tanA
Wrong question
why two x + seven is equal to nineteen.
The numbers cannot be combined with the x
Othman
2x + 7 =19
humberto
2x +7=19. 2x=19 - 7 2x=12 x=6
Yvonne
because x is 6
SAIDI
what is the best practice that will address the issue on this topic? anyone who can help me. i'm working on my action research.
simplify each radical by removing as many factors as possible (a) √75
how is infinity bidder from undefined?
what is the value of x in 4x-2+3
give the complete question
Shanky
4x=3-2 4x=1 x=1+4 x=5 5x
Olaiya
hi can you give another equation I'd like to solve it
Daniel
what is the value of x in 4x-2+3
Olaiya
if 4x-2+3 = 0 then 4x = 2-3 4x = -1 x = -(1÷4) is the answer.
Jacob
4x-2+3 4x=-3+2 4×=-1 4×/4=-1/4
LUTHO
then x=-1/4
LUTHO
4x-2+3 4x=-3+2 4x=-1 4x÷4=-1÷4 x=-1÷4
LUTHO
A research student is working with a culture of bacteria that doubles in size every twenty minutes. The initial population count was  1350  bacteria. Rounding to five significant digits, write an exponential equation representing this situation. To the nearest whole number, what is the population size after  3  hours?
f(x)= 1350. 2^(t/20); where t is in hours.
Merkeb