CHAPTER 5: VARIATIONS

IMPORTANT CONCEPTS
Statement

Direct Variations
Using symbol ` ,

y varies directly as x

Equation with k as constant of

variation
y = kx

P varies directly as Q2

Q2

P = kQ2

M is directly proportional to

Statement

Inverse Variations
Using symbol ` ,

y varies inversely as x

P varies inversely as Q2
M is inversely proportional to
N

Statement

1
x
1
Q2
1
N

Joint Variations
Using symbol ` ,

M=k N

Equation with k as constant of

variation
k
y=
x
k
P= 2
Q
k
M=
N

w varies directly as x and y

xy

Equation with k as constant of

variation
w = kxy

P varies directly as q and r2

q r2

P = kq r2

s varies directly t and

inversely as u

t
u

d varies directly as e2 and

inversely as f

e2

R varies inversely as M and

N

s=
d=
R=

kt
u
ke 2
f

M N
M N
4 steps to solve problems involving variations:
STEP 1 : Change the statement using the symbol .
STEP 2 : Write down the equation connecting the variables using k as the constant of
variation.
STEP 3 : Find the value of k.
STEP 4 : Find the value of variable required.

A) DIRECT VARIATION
Variations

57

EXAMPLE 1:
1
when Q = 2.
3
Express P in terms of Q and find the value of P when Q = 18.
Given that P varies directly as Q and P =

STEP 1 : Symbol STEP 2 : Equation -

STEP 3 : Find the value of k,

THEN, substitute k =
HENCE,

P Q
P = kQ
1
= k(2)
3
1
= 2k
3
1
k =
6

, k = constant

1
in the equation P = kQ.
6
1
P=
Q
6

STEP 4:Find the value of P when Q = 18,

1
6
P=3

P=

18

Exercises:
1.

2.

3.

Variations

Given that y varies directly as x and y = 15 when x = 5.

a) Express y in terms of x.
b) Find the value of y when x = 4.

Given that P Q 2 and P = 10 when Q = 2.

a) Express P in terms of Q.
b) Find the value of P when Q = 4.

Given that y varies directly as x and y = 6 when x = 9.

c) Express y in terms of x.
d) Find the value of y when x = 25.
58

It is given that m varies directly as n 3 and m = 32 when n = 2. Express m in terms of

1
n and find the value of m when n =
.
2

4.

EXAMPLE 2 :
P varies directly as x 2 where x = 5 + y. Given that P = 72 when y = 1.
a) Express P in terms of x.
b) Find the values of y when P = 200.
STEP 1 : Symbol P x2
STEP 2 : Equation P=kx2
, k = constant
STEP 3 : Find the value of k, substitute and x = 5 + y in the above equation:
P = k(5 + y) 2
Then substitute P=72 and y = 1,
72 = k(5 + 1) 2
72 = 36k
72
k=
6
k=2
THEN, substitute k = 2 in the equation P = k x 2
HENCE,
P=2x2

STEP 4:Find the value of y when P = 200 by substitute x = 5 + y

200 = 2(5 + y) 2
100 = (5 + y) 2
100 = 5 + y
10 = 5 + y
y = 10 5
and
y = -10 5
y=5
and
y = -15

Exercises:
1.

Variations

M varies directly as x 2 where x = 3 + y. Given that M = 64 when y = 1.

a) Express M in terms of x.
b) Find the values of y when M = 400.
59

Given that T S 2 and S = 2w 3, and T = 12 when W = 1.

a)Express T in terms of S
b)Find the value of T when W = 5

2.

B) INVERSE VARIATION
EXAMPLE 1:
Given that y varies inversely as x and y = 6 when x = 4.
Express y in terms of x and find the value of y when x = 3.

STEP 1 : Symbol -

STEP 2 : Equation -

STEP 3 : Find the value of k,

1
x
k
y=
x
k
6=
4
k = 24
y

k
.
x
24
y=
x

THEN, substitute k = 24 in the equation y =

HENCE,

STEP 4:Find the value of y when x = 3,

24
3
y=8

y=

Exercises:
1. Given that y varies inversely as x and x = 4 when y = 3.
a. Express y in terms of x.
b. Find the value of y when x = 6.

Variations

60

, k = constant

2. Given that P varies inversely as x and P = 6 when x =

find the value of P when x = 3

1
. Express P in terms of x and
3

1
.
3

3. Given that y varies inversely as x 2 and y = 2 when x = 4.

a) Express y in terms of x
b) Find the value of y when x = 2.

4. Given that S varies inversely as square root of r and S = 5 when r = 16.

a) Express S in terms of r.
b) Find the value of S when r = 25.

5. Given that P varies inversely as

P
Q

Variations

6
9

. Complete the following table.

2

61

6. The table below shows some values of the variables M and N such that N varies inversely
as the square root of M.
M
4
36
N
6
2
Find the relation between M and N.

C) JOINT VARIATION
EXAMPLE 1: (DIRECT VARIATION & DIRECT VARIATION)
y varies directly as x and z. Given that y = 12 when x = 2 and z = 3.
a) Express y in terms of x and y,
b) Find the value of y when x = 5 and z = 2.

STEP 1 : Symbol STEP 2 : Equation STEP 3 : Find the value of k,

y xz
y = kxz
12 = k (2)(3)
12 = 6k
k=2

, k = constant

THEN, substitute k = 2 in the equation y = kxz.

HENCE,
y = 2xz

STEP 4:Find the value of y when x = 5 and z = 2,

y = 2(5)(2)
y = 20

Exercises:
1. p varies directly as q and r. Given that p = 36 when q = 4 and r = 3.
a) Express p in terms of q and r,
b) Find the value of p when q = 3 and r = 3.

Variations

62

2. Given that y mn and y = 20 when m = 2 and n = 5.

a) Express y in terms of m and n
b) Find the value of y when m = 3 and n = 4.

EXAMPLE 2: ( INVERSE VARIATION & INVERSE VARIATION)

Given that y varies inversely as x and z. y = 10 when x = 2 and z = 4.
Express y in terms of x and z, then find the value of y when x = 4 and z = 5.
1
STEP 1 : Symbol y
xz
k
STEP 2 : Equation y=
, k = constant
xz
k
STEP 3 : Find the value of k,
10 =
2( 4)
k = 80
k
.
xz
80
y=
xz

THEN, substitute k = 80 in the equation y =

HENCE,

STEP 4:Find the value of y when x = 4 and z = 5,

80
4(5)
80
y=
, y = 4.
20

y=

Exercises:
1. Given that m

1
x

and m = 3 when x = 3 and y = 16. Express m in terms of x and y. Find

the value of y when m = 9 and x = 12.

Variations

63

2. Given that y

1
and y = 2 when d = 3 and e = 4, calculate the value of e when y = 3 and
d 2e

d = 4.

EXAMPLE 3 (DIRECT VARIATION + INVERSE VARIATION)

1. Given that y varies directly as x and varies inversely as v and y = 10 when x = 4 and v=5.
a) Express y in terms of x and v
b) Find the value of y when x = 2 and v = 15.
x
STEP 1 : Symbol y
v
kx
STEP 2 : Equation y=
, k = constant
v
k4
STEP 3 : Find the value of k,
10 =
5
50 = 4k
25
k=
2
25
kx
THEN, substitute k =
in the equation y =.
2
v
25 x
HENCE,
y=
2v
25(2)
STEP 4:Find the value of y when x = 2 and v = 15, y =
2(15)
50
5
y=
, y=
.
30
3
Exercises:
1. M varies directly as N and varies inversely as P and m = 6 when N = 3 and P = 4.
a) Express M in terms of N and P.
b) Calculate the value of M when N = 5 and P = 2.

Variations

64

2. Given that w

x
and w = 10 when x = 8 and y = 16. Calculate the value of w when
y

x= 18 and y = 36.

3. F varies directly as G to the power of two and varies inversely as H. Given that F = 6
when G = 3 and H = 2, express F in terms of G and H. Find the value of G when F = 27
and H = 4.

4. Given that S

P
and S = 6 when P = 3 and M = 2. Calculate the value of P when S =
M3

2 and M = -4.

5. Given that p varies directly as x and inversely as the square root of y. If p = 8 when x = 6
and y = 9.
a. express p in terms of x and y,
b. calculate the value of y when p = 6 and x = 9.

Variations

65

EXAMPLE 4:
The table shows some values of the variables d, e and f.
d
e
f
Given that d

12
9
4

10
25
m

e
f

a) express d in terms of e and f

b) calculate the value of m.

e
f

STEP 1 : Symbol -

STEP 2 : Equation -

d=

STEP 3 : Find the value of k, substitute d = 12, e = 9, and f = 4

12 =

, k = constant

k 9
4

48 = 3k
k = 16

THEN, substitute k = 16 in the equation

d =.

HENCE,

d=

e
f

16 e
f

STEP 4:Find the value of m (f) when d = 10 and e = 25,

10 =

16 25
m

10m = 16
10m = 80
m = 10
Exercises:
1. The table shows the relation between three variables D, E and F.
D
2
1
2

E
3
6

F
4
m

1
EF
a) express D in terms of E and F
b) calculate the value of m.
Given that D

Variations

66

5,

2. The table shows some values of the variables w, x and y, such that w varies directly as the
square root of x and inversely as y.
w
18
3

x
9
K

y
2
36

a) find the equation connecting w x and y.

b) calculate the value of K.

Objective Questions
1. The table shows relation between the variables, x and y. If y x , find the value of m.

A.

10
7

B.

14
5

C. 8

D.

2.
m
n

Variations

2
9

X
25

67

35
2

The table shows the relation between the variables, m and n. If m varies inversely as the
square root of n, then x =
A.

18
25

B.

6
5

C.

28
3

D.

50
9

v2
, and y = 6 when v = 4 and w = 8, calculate the positive value of v
w
when y = 25 and w = 3.

3. It is given that y

A. 5

B. 6

C. 12.5

D. 25

4. Given that y varies inversely as x and y = 5 when x =

A. y =

15
x

B. y = 15x

C. y =

5
3x

1
, express y in terms of x.
3
3
D. y =
5x

5. Given that y varies directly as x, and y = 6 when x = 2, express y in terms of x.

A. y =

1
3x

B. y = 3x

C. y = 12x

6. Given that P varies inversely as

A. P =

2
3

B. P = 6

D. y =

12
x

, and P = 2 when Q = 9, express P in terms of Q.

C. P =

6
Q

D. P =

18
Q

7. The relation between the variables, P, x and y is represented by P x m y n . If P varies

directly as the square of x and inversely as the cube of y, then m + n =
A. -1

B. 1

C. 5

D. -6

8. Given that y varies directly as x n . If x is the radius and y is the height of the cyclinder whose
volume is a constant, then the value of n is
A. -2

B. 1

C. 2

D. 3

9. The table shows the corresponding values of d and e. The relation between the variables d and
e is represented by
d
e

Variations

1
30

4
15

9
10

68

16
7.5

A.e d

B. e

1
d

C. e

D. e

1
d2

10. T varies directly as the square root of p and inversely as the square root of g. This joint
variation can be written as
A. T

B. T

pg

p2
g

C. T

p
g

D. T

p
g2

11. It is given that m varies inversely as s and t. If m = 3 when s = 2 and t = 4, find the value of m
when s = 2 and t = 6.
A. 2

B. 3

12. It is given that G

A. G =

1
H2

9
H2

C. 4

D. 5

H = 5M -1. If G =3 when M = 2, express G in terms of H.

B. G =

27
H2

C. G =

243
H2

D. G =

243
H

13.
d
e
f

6
3
2

8
X
5

The table shows the relation between the three variables d, e and f. If d

e
, calculate the
f

value of x
A. 6
14. It is given that y
A.

Variations

1
2

B. 10

C. 12

D. 13

x n . If y varies inversely as the square root of x, then the value of n is

B.

1
2

C. -1

69

D. 2

15.
F
6
12

G
9
m

H
2
3

The table shows the relation between the three variables, F,G and H. If F varies directly as the
square root of G and inversely as H, then the value of m is
A. 3

B. 9

C. 81

D. 144

16.
S
P
M

2
3
4

3
1
X

The table shows the relation between the variables, S, P and M. If S

, calculate

P M

the value of x
A. 4

B. 8

17. Given that p

A. p =

C. 16

D. 64

x2
and p = 6 when x = 2 and y = 3, express p in terms of x and y
y

9x2
2y

B. p =

2x2
9y

C. p =

x2
9y

D. p =

9x2
y

18. Given that y varies directly as x 2 and that y = 80 when x = 4, express y in terms of x
A. y = x 2

C. y = 5x 2

B. y = 5x

D. y =

1280
x2

19.
w
x
y

2
12
9

3
24
m

The table shows the relation between the three variables, w, x and y. If w

the value of m
A. 2

B. 4

C. 8

D. 16

20. If M varies directly as the square root of N, the relation between M and N is

Variations

70

x
y

, calculate

A. M

B. M

N2

C. M

1
2

D. M

1
N

1
2

PAST YEAR QUESTIONS

1. SPM 2003(Nov)
Given that p is directly proportional to n 2 and p = 36, express p in terms of n
A. p = n 2

B. p = 4n 2

C. p = 9n 2

D. p = 12n 2

2. SPM 2003(Nov)
w
x
y

2
8
4

3
18
n

The table shows some values of the variables, w, x and y which satisfy the relationship w
x
y

, calculate the value of n

A. 6

B. 9

C. 12

D. 36

3. SPM 2004(Nov)
P varies directly as the square root of Q. The relation between P and Q is
1
1
1
A. P Q 2
B. P Q 2
C. P
Q2
4. SPM 2004(Nov)
P
3
6

M
8
w

D. P

A. 16

1
Q2

r
4
9

The table shows the relation between the three variables p, m and r. Given that
m
, calculate the value of w
r
B. 24

C. 36

5. SPM 2004(Jun)

Variations

71

D. 81

n
. It is given that p = 4 when n = 8 and r = 6.
r
Calculate the value of p when n = 64 and r = 3
The relation between p, n and r is p

A. 16

B. 24

C. 32

D. 48

6. SPM 2004(Jun)
It is given that p varies inversely with w and p = 6 when w = 2. Express p in terms of w.
A. p =

3
w

B.

12
w

C. p = 3w

D. p = 12w

7. SPM 2005(Nov)
The table shows some values of the variables x and y such that y varies inversely as the
square root of x.
x
y

4
6

16
3

Find the relation between y and x.

A. y = 3

B.

12

C.

3 2
x
8

D.

96
x2

8. SPM 2005(Nov)
It is given that y varies directly as the square root of x and y = 15 when x = 9. Calculate the
value of x when y = 30.
A. 5
B. 18
C. 25
D. 36
9. SPM 2005(Nov)
The table shows some values of the variables w, x and y such that w varies directly as the
square of x and inversely as y.
W
40
M
Calculate the value of m.
A. 90

x
4
6

y
2
4

B. 45

C. 30

10. SPM 2005(Jun)

Table shows values of the variables x and y.
x
y

3
5

m
15

It is given x varies directly with y. Calculate the value of m.

Variations

72

D. 15

A. 6

B. 9

C. 12

D. 15

11. SPM 2005(Jun)

P varies directly with the square of R and inversely with Q. It is given that P = 2 when Q = 3
and R = 4. Express P in terms of R and Q.
4Q
32Q
3R 2
3 R
A. P =
B.
C.
D. P =
2
Q
8Q
3 R
3R
12. SPM 2006(Jun)
It is given that y varies inversely with x and y = 21 when x = 3. Express y in terms of x.
A. y = 7x

B. y =

x
7

C. y =

1
63 x

D. y =

63
x

13. SPM 2006(Jun)

Table 2 shows two sets of values of Y, V and W.
Y
3
5
m

V
3

W
12

18

It is given that Y varies directly with the square of V and inversely with W. Find the value of
m.
5
4
10
A.
B.
C.
D.
3
9
9
6
25
14. SPM 2007(Nov)
Table 1 shows some values of the variables x and y.
x
y

2
4

n
32

It is given that y varies directly as the cube of x. Calculate the value of n.

A. 4
B. 8
C. 16
D. 30
15. SPM 2007(Nov)
P varies inversely as the square root of M. Given that the constant is k, find the relation
between P and M.
A.

P kM

1
2

B. P

k
M

1
2

C. P kM 2

16. SPM 2007(Nov)

Variations

73

D. P

k
M2

The relation between the variables x, y and z is x

5
and y = 6.
3
C. 32

and z = 8. Calculate the value of z when x =

A. 2

y
5
. It is given that x =
when y = 2
z
4

B. 18

D. 72

17. SPM 2007(Jun)

It is given that P varies inversely with Q and P =

2
1
when Q =
. Find the relation between
5
2

P and Q.
A. P

4
Q
5

B. P

1
Q
5

C. P

4
5Q

D. P

1
5Q

18. SPM 2007(Jun)

Table shows some values of the variables F, G and H that satisfy F
F
20
108

G
2
6

G2
.
H

H
3
p

Calculate the value of p.

A. 5

B. 9

C. 10

D. 18

19. SPM 2008(Nov)

Table shows some values of the variables R and T. It is given that R varies directly as T .
R
T

54
36

72
y

Find the value of y.

A. 24

B. 27

C. 48

D. 64

20. SPM 2008(Nov)

Given y varies inversely as x 3 , and that y = 4 when x = . Calculate the value of x when y =
1
.
16
1
A.
B.
C. 2
D. 8
8
Variations

74

21. SPM 2008(Nov)

It is given that P varies directly as the square root of Q and inversely as the square of R. Find the
relation between P, Q and R.
A. P

Q2

B. P

R
22. SPM 2008 (Jun)

Q
R

R2

C. P

D. P

R
Q2

It is given that p varies directly as the square root of w and that p = 5 when w = 4 . Express p in
terms of w.
A. p

5 2
w
16

B. p

80
w2

C. p

5
w
2

D. p

10
w

23. SPM 2008(Jun)

Table shows some values of the variables m and n, such that m varies inversely as the cube of n
m

1
2
2

Calculate the value of x.

A.

4
27

B.

4
9

C.

9
16

D.

ANSWERS
Chapter 21 Variations
A) DIRECT VARIATION
Example 1: No. 1. a) y = 3x
b) y = 12
5 2
Q
2
b) P = 40

No. 2. a) P =

No. 3. a) y = 2x
b) y = 50
No. 4. m =

1 3
1
n ,m=
2
16

Example 2: No. 1. a) M = 4x 2
b) y = 7 and y = -13
B) INVERSE VARIATION
12
Example 1: No. 1. a) y =
x
b) y = 2

Variations

No. 4. a) S =

20

b) S = 4

75

27
16

2
x
3
b) P =
5

No. 2. a) P =

No. 3. a) y =

No. 5. P = 9 , Q = 81
12

N0. 6. k = 12, N =

16
x2

b) y = 4
C) JOINT VARIATION
Example 1: No. 1. a) k = 3, p = 3qr
No. 2. a) k = 2, y = mn
b) y = 24
Example 2: No. 1. k = 36,
No. 2. k = 72,

Example 3: No. 1. a) k = 8,

36

m= x

y=

72
,
de 2

M=

8N
P

w=

20 x
,
y

y=9
e=

3
2

b) M = 20
No. 2. k = 20,
No. 3. k =

4
,
3

No. 4. k = 16,

F=

S=

p=

b) y = 36
D=

24
EF

b) m = 16
No. 2. a) k = 12,

w=

12

x
y

b) K = 81

Objective Questions.
1.D
2.B
3.A
Variations

6. C
7. A
8. A

11.A
12.C
13.B

4G 2
,
3H

16 P
,
M3

No. 5. a) k = 4,

Example 4: No. 1. a) k = 24,

w=2

16. C
17. A
18. C
76

G= 9

P = -8
4x
y

4.C
5.B

9. C
10. C

14.B
15.C

19. D
20. C

PAST YEAR QUESTIONS

1.B
2.B
3.A
4.B
5.A
6.B
7.B

Variations

8.D
9.B
10.B
11.A
12.A
13.C
14. A21.B

15.B
16.B
17.D
18. A
19. C
20. C

22.C
23. A

77