Secondary 2 Mathematics | Lesson 20

Direct and Inverse Proportion (III) – Revision

Learning objectives:
- Revise on Direct and Inverse Proportion

Exercise 1
It is given that 𝑦 is directly proportional to 𝑥, and 𝑦 = 12 when 𝑥 = 4.
a) Form an equation connecting 𝑥 and 𝑦.
b) Find the value of 𝑥 when 𝑦 = 18.

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Lesson 20 - Direct and Inverse Proportions (III)
Exercise 2
In an experiment to test the braking system of a new car, engineers found that the braking distance, 𝑏
metres, is directly proportional to the square of the speed, 𝑣 km/h, of the car. In one test, the braking
distance is 18 metres when travelling at 60 km/h,
a) Calculate the braking distance of the car when it is travelling at a speed of 70 km/h.
b) Calculate the speed of the car when the braking distance is 15 m.

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Lesson 20 - Direct and Inverse Proportions (III)
Exercise 3
𝑀 is directly proportional to the square of 𝑑.
a) Given that 𝑀 = 54 when 𝑑 = 3, form an equation connecting 𝑀 and 𝑑.
1
b) Find 𝑀 when 𝑑 = 4.

Exercise 4
𝑦 is directly proportional to the square of 𝑥.
Calculate the percentage increase in 𝑦 when 𝑥 is doubled.

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Lesson 20 - Direct and Inverse Proportions (III)
Exercise 5
𝑦
is directly proportional to 𝑥 2 .
𝑥
𝑦
a) Sketch the graph of 𝑥 against 𝑥 2 on the axes below.

b) i) Given that (3,10) is a point that lies on the graph in part (a), express 𝑦 in terms of 𝑥.

ii) Hence, sketch the graph of 𝑦 against 𝑥 on the axes below.

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Lesson 20 - Direct and Inverse Proportions (III)
Exercise 6
a) 𝑝 is proportional to the square of 𝑞 and it is known that 𝑝 = 12 for a particular value of 𝑞.
Find the value of 𝑝 when the value of 𝑞 is increased by 200%.
b) 𝑦 is inversely proportional to 𝑥 3 and 𝑦 = 2 when 𝑥 = 5. Find the value of 𝑦 when 𝑥 = 3.
Leave your answer in its exact form.

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Lesson 20 - Direct and Inverse Proportions (III)
Exercise 7
5 workers take 35 days to build a boat. Assuming that the men work at the same rate, calculate the
number of workers needed to build a boat in 25 days.

Exercise 8
It is given that 𝑦 is inversely proportional to 𝑥 3 . If 𝑥 is doubled, find the percentage decrease in 𝑦.

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Lesson 20 - Direct and Inverse Proportions (III)
Exercise 9
𝑌 is inversely proportional to the cube of 𝑥.
The value of 𝑌 is 18 for a particular value of 𝑥.
Find the value of 𝑌 if 𝑥 is three times its original value.

Exercise 10
a) 𝑦 in inversely proportional to the square of 𝑥. When 𝑥 = 3, 𝑦 = 10.
Find the positive value of 𝑥 when 𝑦 = 4.5.
b) 𝑦 varies directly with the cube root of 𝑥.
Find the percentage increase in 𝑦 when 𝑥 is doubled.

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Lesson 20 - Direct and Inverse Proportions (III)
Exercise 11
The volume of a container, 𝑣 𝑐𝑚3 , is directly proportional to the cube of its radius, 𝑟 cm.
The volume of the container is 2500 𝑐𝑚3 when the radius is 10 cm.
a) Find a formula for 𝑣 in terms of 𝑟.
b) Find the radius of the container when the volume is 1000 𝑐𝑚3 .
c) Find the percentage increase in volume when the radius is doubled.

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Lesson 20 - Direct and Inverse Proportions (III)
Exercise 12
Given that 𝑝 is inversely proportional to the square of 𝑞 and 𝑝 = 1 when 𝑞 = 2, find the value of 𝑝 when
𝑞 = 8.

Exercise 13
Given that 𝑦 is directly proportional to (3𝑥 + 7)2, and that 𝑦 = 6 when 𝑥 = −4,
a) Express 𝑦 in terms of 𝑥.
b) Hence, find the values of 𝑥 when 𝑦 = 15.36.
(2022 Kent Ridge Prelim)

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Lesson 20 - Direct and Inverse Proportions (III)
Exercise 14
The mass, 𝑀 grams, of a cylindrical clay, is directly proportional to the cube of its radius, 𝑟 cm.
The mass of the cylindrical clay is increased by 700%.
Calculate the percentage increase in the radius of the cylindrical clay.
(2022 Mayflower Prelim)

Exercise 15
The table below shows the mass of a fruit, 𝑚 g, with a diameter of 𝑥 cm.
Determine whether 𝑚 is directly proportional to 𝑥 3 .

(2022 TKGS Prelim)

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Lesson 20 - Direct and Inverse Proportions (III)
Additional Practice 1
The gravitational force, 𝐹, between two huge objects, is inversely proportional to the square of the
distance between the two objects. Given that the force is 40 N when the distance is 𝑟 km, find the
gravitational force if the distance is halved.
(Woodlands Ring S3 SA2 2018)

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Lesson 20 - Direct and Inverse Proportions (III)
Additional Practice 2
The mass, 𝑀 g, of a model car, is directly proportional to the cube of its length, 𝑙 cm.
When the length is 3 cm, its mass is 12 g.
a) Find a formula for 𝑀 in terms of 𝑙.
b) Find the length of the model car when its mass is 324 g.

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Lesson 20 - Direct and Inverse Proportions (III)
Additional Practice 3
3
a) 𝑦 is inversely proportional to √𝑥.
It is known that 𝑦 = 2.5 when 𝑥 = 0.81.
i) Write the equation connecting 𝑥 and 𝑦.
ii) Find the value of 𝑥 when 𝑦 = 4.5.
b) A moving object travels 𝑠 metres in 𝑡 seconds. It is given that 𝑠 is directly proportional to 𝑡 2 .
If the object travels 75 metres when 𝑡 = 𝑄 seconds, find the new value of 𝑠 when 𝑡 = 4𝑄 seconds.

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Lesson 20 - Direct and Inverse Proportions (III)
Additional Practice 4
5 men are hired to paint a house. If an additional man is hired, the painting can be completed 4 days
earlier. Calculate the number of additional men to be hired if the painting is to be completed 18 days
earlier.

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Lesson 20 - Direct and Inverse Proportions (III)
Additional Practice 5
𝑦 is inversely proportional to 𝑥. It is given that 𝑦 = 4 when 𝑥 = 4.
a) Find an equation connecting 𝑥 and 𝑦.
b) Find the percentage change in 𝑦 when 𝑥 is increased to 200% of its original value.
(2022 Presbyterian High Prelim)

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Lesson 20 - Direct and Inverse Proportions (III)
Additional Practice 6
a) 𝑦 is inversely proportional to 𝑥 2 . 𝑦 = 4 when 𝑥 = 6. Find 𝑦 when 𝑥 = 10.
b) 𝑝 is directly proportional to 𝑞 3 . It is known that 𝑝 = 24 for a particular value of 𝑞.
Find the value of 𝑝 when this value of 𝑞 is doubled.
(St Pat S3 SA1 2018)

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Lesson 20 - Direct and Inverse Proportions (III)
Additional Practice 7
It is given that 𝑦 is inversely proportional to (𝑥 2 − 3) and 𝑥 = 3 when 𝑦 = 1.
a) Find the equation connecting 𝑥 and 𝑦.
b) Find the values of 𝑥 when 𝑦 = 4.5.
(East Spring S3 SA1 2018)

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Lesson 20 - Direct and Inverse Proportions (III)
Additional Practice 8
It is given that 𝑝 is inversely proportional to (𝑞 − 3)2 . It is known that 𝑞 = 5 when 𝑝 = 2.
a) Find an equation connecting 𝑝 and 𝑞.
b) Find the values of 𝑞 when 𝑝 = 50.

Answers to Additional Practice

Question Final Answer Question Final Answer Question Final Answer

1 𝐹 = 160 N 3b 1200 m 6b 𝑝𝑛𝑒𝑤 = 192

4 6
2a 𝑀 = 9 𝑙3 4 15 7a 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 −3

16
2b 𝑙 = 9 cm 5a 𝑦= 𝑥
7b 𝑥 = ±2.08
2.25 8
3ai 𝑦= 5b −50% 8a 𝑝 = (𝑞−3)2
√𝑥

1 2 3
3aii 𝑥=4 6a 𝑦 = 1.44 8b 𝑞 = 3 5 or 𝑞 = 2 5

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Lesson 20 - Direct and Inverse Proportions (III)