Algebra 2 9-4 Name____________ 1

Direct, Joint, and Inverse Variation

Direct variation: y = kx k is the constant of

variation
k ≠0
• y is a multiple of x
• graph is a line through the origin
• “y varies directly as x”
• common examples: _______________________________________

• If you know that y varies directly as x and one set of values,

you can use a proportion to find the other set of values.
y1 y
= 2
x1 x2

Example 1: If y varies directly as x and y = 6 when x = 11,

find y when x = 3.

Example 2: If y varies directly as x and y = -15 when x = 5,

find y when x = 3.

Joint Variation: y = kxz

• “y varies jointly with the product of x and z”

• k is the constant of variation
• If y1 = kx1z1 and y2 = kx2z2, then solve each for k.
y1 y2
=k and =k
x1 z1 x2 z 2
y1 y2
so x z = x z
1 1 2 2

Example 3: Suppose y varies jointly as x and z. Find y when x =

10 and z = 5, if y = 12 when z = 8 and x = 3.
Algebra 2 9-4 Name____________ 2

Example 4: Suppose y varies jointly with the product of x and

z. Use
x = -5, z = 2, and y = ¾ to find an equation that
relates the variables.

k
Inverse variation: xy = k or y = x
k ≠0
• “y varies inversely as x”
• graph is a curve
• as x increases, y decreases
• examples:
• as the pressure on a gas increases, its volume
decreases
• as the speed increases, the time to travel a given
distance decreases
x1 x
• x1y1 = x2y2 or = 2
y2 y1

Example 5: The variables x and y vary inversely. If x = 3 and y

= -2, find k and write an equation that relates the
variables.

Example 6: If y varies inversely as x and y = 10 when x = 20,

find x when y = 16.

Example 7: If a varies inversely as b and a = -6 when b = 2,

find a when b = -7.
Algebra 2 9-4 Name____________ 3

Example 8: State whether each equation represents a direct,

inverse, or joint variation. Then state the constant of
variation.

x 1
a. = −7 b. x = c. A = ½bh
y y

Example 9: The volume V of a cone varies jointly as the square

of the radius of the base r2 and the height h. Find
the equation of the joint variation if V = 285, r = 4,
and h = 17.

Assignment: Pages 496 – 498, 14 – 36 even, 56, 62 – 72

even