Linear Functions and Equations Lesson #8: Direct Variation 433

Assignment
1. Write each of the following in the forms y ∝ x and y = kx.

a) The perimeter P units of a square varies directly as the side length L units.

b ) At a constant speed, the distance s km travelled by a car varies directly

as the time t hours.

c) The amount, A dollars, an athlete collects in a walk-a-thon is directly proportional

to the number, n km walked.

d ) Under certain conditions, the volume V cm3 of a gas varies directly as its absolute
temperature T in °K.
.

e) The cost C dollars of transporting goods varies as the distance d km.

f) The area, A, of a rectangle is directly proportional to its length, l, when

the width is constant.

2. The values representing the variables in each of the following tables are in direct variation.
Calculate the constant of variation.
a) y∝x b) b∝a c) i ∝ g

x y a b g i
5 15 0.15 3 25 10
20 60 0.65 13 50 20
80 240 1.5 30 60 24
320 960 2.7 54 85 34

Copyright © by Absolute Value Publications. This book is NOT covered by the Cancopy agreement.
434 Linear Functions and Equations Lesson #8: Direct Variation

3. In each case complete the table if y ∝ x and state the constant of variation.

x 4 10
a)
y 21 30 9 16.5

x 2 6 9 15
b)
y 21 0.7 35

4. In each case, determine the constant of variation, write a formula relating the two variables
and solve the problem.
a) y varies directly as x. When y = 24, x = 6. Find y when x = 3.

b ) a ∝ b. When a = 20, b = 12. Find b when a = 15.

c) w ∝ y. When w = 32, y = 12. Find w when y = 4.

d ) y is directly proportional with x. When y = 72, x = 12. Find x when y = 6.

Copyright © by Absolute Value Publications. This book is NOT covered by the Cancopy agreement.
 Linear Functions and Equations Lesson #8: Direct Variation 435

5. The values representing the variables in each of the following graphs are directly
proportional. Calculate the constant in each.
a) y b) y
5 5

x x
5 5

6. The following data (rounded to the nearest tenth) has been collected regarding the radius,
circumference, and area of several circles.

radius (cm) 3 5 7 9 12
circumference (cm) 18.8 31.4 44.0 56.5 75.4

area (cm2) 28.2 78.5 153.9 254.5 452.4

a) Plot the radius (x-axis) and the circumference (y-axis) on Grid 1.

b ) Plot the radius (x-axis) and the area (y-axis) on Grid 2.
Grid 1 Grid 2

c) Which of the two graphs shows direct variation? Explain.

Copyright © by Absolute Value Publications. This book is NOT covered by the Cancopy agreement.
 436 Linear Functions and Equations Lesson #8: Direct Variation

7. During a period of heavy construction, the cost of building a sidewalk in Rocky Vistas, a
subdivision of a major city, varies directly as its length. A sidewalk 2000 m long costs
$72 000 to build.

a) Determine the cost of a sidewalk 3750 m long.

b ) Determine the length of a sidewalk which cost $99 216.

8. In an electrical circuit the voltage varies directly as the current. If the voltage is 6 V, then the
current is 8 A.
a) Determine the voltage if current is 26 A.

b ) Determine the current if the voltage is 15 V.

c) What happens to the voltage if the current is halved?

Multiple 9. y varies directly as x, and y = 0.5 when x = 7.5. The constant of variation is
Choice 1
A.
15
B. 3.75
C. 7.5
D. 15

Copyright © by Absolute Value Publications. This book is NOT covered by the Cancopy agreement.
 Linear Functions and Equations Lesson #8: Direct Variation 437

10. p varies directly as q, and q = 0.2 when p = 0. 06. When p = 0.4, the value of q is
4
A.
3
3
B.
4
C. 0.12
D. 0.2

Numerical 11. Given that y varies directly as x, the blank in the table is _____.
Response (Record your answer in the numerical response box from left to right)

x 7 5
y 37.5

12. The number of articles produced by a machine varies directly as the time the machine is
operating. Yesterday the machine operator switched the machine on at 8am and by the
time the machine was switched off at lunchtime(11.30 am) 266 articles had been
produced. If the machine operated for a further 4 hours in the afternoon, the total number
of articles produced in the day was _____

(Record your answer in the numerical response box from left to right)

Copyright © by Absolute Value Publications. This book is NOT covered by the Cancopy agreement.
438 Linear Functions and Equations Lesson #8: Direct Variation

Answer Key
1 . a) P ∝ L, P = kL b ) s ∝ t, s = kt c) A ∝ n , A = kn
d) V ∝ T, V = k T e ) C ∝ d, C = kd f) A ∝ l, A = kl
2
2 . a) 3 b ) 20 c)
5
3 . a) see table below b ) see table below
0.
0.

32 1
4 . a) 12 b) 9 c) d) 1 5 . a) 3 b)
3 2
6 . a) see graph below b ) see graph below c ) Grid 1 shows direct variation - a straight
line through the origin.
Grid 2 does not show direct variation.

7 . a) $135 000 b ) 2756 m.

8 . a) 19.5 V b ) 20 A c ) the voltage is halved

9. A 10. A 11. 5 2 . 5 12. 5 7 0

Copyright © by Absolute Value Publications. This book is NOT covered by the Cancopy agreement.