Chapter 2

Lesson
Vocabulary
Direct Variation
2-1 varies directly as
direct-variation equation
constant of variation
direct-variation function
BIG IDEA When two variables x and y satisfy the equation directly proportional to
y = kxn for some constant value of k, we say that y varies directly
as xn.

When possible, Lance puts his bike into its highest gear for Mental Math
maximum speed. In highest gear, the ratio of the number of front-
a. Which is larger:
52 teeth
gear teeth to the number of back-gear teeth is _______ ≈ 4.73. This 7
_ 7
or __
10 ?
11 teeth 9
1
means that as Lance turns the pedals one complete revolution, the b. Which is closer to _2 :
3
_ 4
back wheel turns almost 5 times. So if w is the number of back-wheel 5 or _7 ?
turns per minute and p is the number of pedal turns per minute, then c. Which is closer to
1 1 1 1
52
w = __ p. zero: _2 − _3 or _3 − _4 ?
11
d. Which is closer to 1:
If Lance starts pedaling twice as fast, then the back wheel will also 1
_
+ _14 + _16 or _13 + _15 + _17
turn twice as fast as it previously did. We say that w varies directly 2
52
as p, and we call w = __11
p a direct-variation equation. In a direct
variation, both quantities increase or decrease together.
Suppose Lance changes to a lower gear with a gear ratio of
42 teeth
_______ = 2. A direct-variation equation for this situation is w = 2p.
21 teeth
Recall the formula A = πr 2 for the area of a circle.
This, too, is a direct-variation equation; as the
radius r increases, the area A also increases. r
In this case, A varies directly as r 2. Often this
wording is used: the area A varies directly as
the square of r.
A = πr 2

Direct-Variation Functions
52
The formulas w = __ 11
p, w = 2p, and A = πr 2 are all of the form
n
y = kx , where k is a nonzero constant, called the constant of
variation, and n is a positive number. These formulas all describe
direct-variation functions.

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 Lesson 2-1

Definition of Direct-Variation Function

A direct-variation function is a function that can be described
by a formula of the form y = kxn, with k ≠ 0 and n > 0.

When y varies directly as xn we also say that y is directly proportional

to xn . For instance, the formula A = πr 2 can be read “the area of a
circle is directly proportional to the square of its radius.” Here n = 2
and k = π, so π is the constant of variation.
QY1 QY1
Identify the constant of
If you know one point (x, y) of a direct-variation function, you can
variation and the value of
determine k and, thus, know precisely the function. 52
n in the formula w = __11 p.
The formula A = πr 2 is one example of a general theorem from
geometry: in a set of similar figures (in this case, circles), area is
proportional to the square of length. Likewise, in a set of similar
figures, volume is proportional to the cube of edge length. Example 1
is an instance of that theorem.

Example 1
The volume V of a regular icosahedron is directly proportional to the cube
of the length  of an edge.
a. Identify the dependent and independent variables and write an
equation relating them.
b. A regular icosahedron with an edge length of 4 cm has a volume of
about 140 cm3. Determine the constant of variation k.
c. Rewrite the variation equation using your result from Part b.
d. Approximate to the nearest cubic centimeter the volume of an
Regular Icosahedron (20 faces)
icosahedron with an edge length of 5 cm.
Solution
a. Because V is directly proportional to , the dependent variable is
V and the independent variable is . In this problem n = 3, so
an equation for the direct variation is V = k3, where k is a
constant.
b. To determine k, substitute V = 140 cm3 and  = 4 cm into your direct-
variation equation from Part a.
140 cm3 = k • (4 cm)3
140 cm3 = (64 cm3) • k
140 cm3
k = _______
3 = 2.1875
64 cm
(continued on next page)

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 Chapter 2

c. Substitute k = 2.1875 to get a formula relating the edge length

and volume.
V = 2.1875 3
d. Evaluate your formula when  = 5 cm.
V = 2.1875(5 cm)3 ≈ 270 cm3

Direct-Variation Functions
The four parts of Example 1 illustrate a procedure you can use
to solve variation problems. First, write a general equation that
describes the variation. Next, substitute the given values into the
general equation and solve for k. Then use the k-value to write the
variation function. Finally, evaluate the function at the specified point
to find the missing value.
Guided Example 2 illustrates how to use this procedure to solve a
typical direct-variation problem.

GUIDED
Example 2
Suppose b varies directly as the sixth power of g. If b = 729 when g = 2,
find b when g = 10.
Solution Write an equation with variables b, g, and k that describes the
variation.
? =k• ? 6

Find the constant of variation. You are given that b = 729 when g = 2.
Substitute these values into the variation formula to find k.
? =k• ? 6

? =k• ?
? =k
Now rewrite the variation formula using the value of the constant you found.
? = ? • ? 6

Finally, use the formula to find b when g = 10.

b= ? • ? 6

b= ?
So, when g = 10, b = ? .

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 Lesson 2-1

Activity
You can solve direct-variation problems on a CAS by defining two functions.
The first function calculates the constant of variation k. The second function
calculates values of the direct-variation function using that k and a value of
the independent variable.
Step 1 Plan your first function.
a. Give a meaningful name to the function so you can use it in the
future. We call the first function dirk, short for direct-variation
k-value.
b. Think about the inputs you need to calculate k and give them
names. In Part b of Example 1, you used initial values of the
independent and dependent variables and the value of the
exponent to calculate k. Good names for the initial values of the
independent and dependent variables are xi and yi, respectively.
We call the exponent n, as in the direct-variation formula y = kxn.
c. Generalize the result of solving for k in Part b of Example 1.
In the Example,
140
xi = 4, yi = 140, n = 3, and k = ___ 3 .
4
yi
So, in general, k = __
xi n .
Step 2 Clear the values for xi, yi, k, and n in the CAS memory.
Then define the dirk function using its three inputs and
the general formula for k you found above.
Step 3 Use the dirk function to calculate k for the situation in
Example 1. The input values are xi = 4, yi = 140, and
n = 3. The display at the right shows the value of k in
both fraction and decimal form.
Step 4 A good name for the second function is dvar, for direct
variation. There are three inputs for this function also:
another known value x for the independent variable, the
constant of variation k, and the exponent n. Clear x from
the CAS memory and define dvar using the general form
of the direct-variation formula, as shown at the right.
Step 5 Use dvar to find the missing function value for x = 5,
k = 2.1875, and n = 3. Compare your answer to Part d
of Example 1.
QY2 QY2
Use dirk and dvar to
You may use dirk and dvar to answer the Questions.
check your answers to
Example 2.

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 Chapter 2

Questions
COVERING THE IDEAS
1. Provide an example of direct variation from everyday life.
2. Give an example of a direct-variation function from geometry.
3. Fill in the Blanks In the function y = 5x 2, ? varies directly as
? , and ? is the constant of variation.

4. Suppose pay varies directly as time worked and Paul makes $400
for working 25 hours.
a. What is the constant of variation?
b. How much will Paul make for working 32 hours?
5. The lengths of the femur and tibia within
a species of mammal are typically directly
proportional. If the femur of one household
cat is 116.0 mm long and its tibia is 122.8 mm femur
long, how long is the tibia of a cat whose
femur is 111.5 mm long?
6. Suppose s = 4.7t.
a. Find s when t = 3.1. tibia
b. Is this an equation for a direct-variation
function? How can you tell?
7. Assume that y is directly proportional to the
square of x.
a. Multiple Choice Which equation represents this situation?
A y = 2x B y = kx 2 C x = ky 2 D y = 2xk
b. Multiple Choice It is also true that x is directly proportional to
A the square of y. B the square root of y.
C twice y. D half of y.
In 8 and 9, refer to Example 1.
8. What is the volume of a regular icosahedron with an edge of
length 2 cm?
9. Use the solve command on a CAS to find the length of the
edge of a regular icosahedron with a volume of 20 cm3.
10. Suppose W varies directly as the fourth power of z, and W = 27
when z = 3.
a. Find the constant of variation.
b. Find W when z = 9.
11. Suppose y varies directly as the cube of x, and y = 27.6 when
x = 0.5. Find y when x = 3.2.

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 Lesson 2-1

x 3
12. Suppose f is a function defined by f(x) = __
7
. Is f a direct-variation
function? Justify your answer.

APPLYING THE MATHEMATICS

13. When lightning strikes in the distance, you do not see the flash
and hear the thunder at the same time. You first see the
lightning, then you hear the thunder.
a. Write an equation to represent the following situation: The
distance d (in miles) from the observer to the flash varies
directly as the time t (in seconds) between seeing the
lightning and hearing the thunder.
b. Suppose that lightning strikes a point 4 miles away and that
you hear the thunder 20 seconds later. How far away has
lightning struck if 12 seconds pass between seeing a flash
and hearing its thunder?
14. The speed of sound in air is about 1,088 feet per second.
a. Convert the speed of sound to miles per second.
b. Write the relationship between the number of miles sound
travels and the number of seconds it takes sound to travel
that distance as a direct variation. Be sure to identify what
your variables represent.
c. Use your answer from Part b to find the time it takes sound
to travel four miles in air.
15. Refer to the formula S.A. = 6s2 for the surface area of a cube
s S.A.
with an edge of length s.
1 ?
a. Complete the table at the right.
b. How many times as large is the area when s = 4 as 2 ?
when s = 2? 3 ?
c. How many times as large is the area when s = 6 as 4 ?
when s = 3?
5 ?
d. How many times as large is the area when s = 10 as
6 ?
when s = 5?
e. Fill in the Blank Relate the length of the edge to the surface 7 ?
area of the cube. When the edge length doubles, the surface 8 ?
area ? . 9 ?
f. Fill in the Blank When the edge length triples, the surface
10 ?
area ? .

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 Chapter 2

16. The table at the right gives a typical thinking distance, Overall
Thinking Braking
braking distance, and overall stopping distance for Speed Stopping
Distance Distance
a car traveling at various speeds. Distance

a. Show that the thinking distance t is directly 20 mph 20 ft 20 ft 40 ft

proportional to the speed s by finding the 30 mph 30 ft 45 ft 75 ft
constant of variation and writing a direct-variation
40 mph 40 ft 80 ft 120 ft
formula.
b. Show that the braking distance b is directly 50 mph 50 ft 125 ft 175 ft
proportional to the square of the speed s by 60 mph 60 ft 180 ft 240 ft
finding the constant of variation and writing a 70 mph 70 ft 245 ft 315 ft
direct-variation formula.
c. Is the overall stopping distance d directly
proportional to the speed? Explain how you know.

REVIEW
17. The distance d in feet a body falls in t seconds is given by
ft
the formula d = __12 gt 2, where g = 32 ____ is the constant of
sec2
gravitational acceleration. (Lesson 1-4)
a. How far will a body fall in 7 seconds?
b. How long did a body fall if it traveled 83 feet?
1
18. Graph the function f with the equation f(x) = __ in a standard
x2
window. What is the domain of f ? (Lesson 1-4)
19. In the table at the right, is y a function of x? Justify your answer. x y
(Lesson 1-2)
–1 1
20. A dime has a diameter of 17.91 mm. (Lesson 1-1)
–1 –1
a. You place 15 dimes in a row. What is the length of your row
of dimes? –4 2

b. Write an expression to describe what happens to the length 0 0

of your row of dimes when you remove x dimes. –18 –4
21. Suppose  ABC~DEF (that is, the two triangles are similar).
a. Sketch a possible diagram of this situation.
AB DE
b. What can you say about the ratios ___ and ___ ? (Previous
BC EF
Course)
In Questions 22 and 23, write the expression as a power of 5. QY ANSWERS
52
(Previous Course) 1. __
11 is the constant of
22. 52 · 53 23. (5 · 5)3 variation, and n = 1.
2. dirk gives k ≈ 11.39,
EXPLORATION
and dvar shows that
24. Use the Internet to find some common gear ratios that are used b = 11,390,625 when
for different speed settings on racing bikes. Write and solve a g = 10. So, the answers
direct-variation problem involving one of these gear ratios. check.

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