Please read and understand the concept notes, understand the given examples.
Then prepare 1 whole sheet
of paper and answer the given activity and assessment which are colored in green.
Lesson 2 Joint Variation
What is it
Joint variation occurs when one quantity varies directly as the product of two or more
other quantities. This can be expressed into mathematical statement or equation as:
a
a = kbc, or k = where k is the constant of variation.
bc
a
A statement “a varies jointly as b and c” means a = kbc, or k = , where k is the
bc
constant of variation.
Examples:
a. The cost of busing students for each school trip varies with the number of students attending and
the distance from the school. The variable cost c, varies jointly with the number of students n,
and the distance d.
b. The area A of a parallelogram varies jointly as the base b and altitude h.
Translating Joint Variation Statements into Mathematical Equations and Vice Versa
Examples:
A.) Translate each statement into mathematical equation.
a. The work W (in joules) done when lifting an object varies jointly with the mass m (in kilograms)
of the object and the height h (in meters) that the object is lifted,
is translated as W = kmh
b. The volume V of a cylinder varies jointly as its height h and the square of the radius r,
is translated as V = khr2
c. The electrical voltage V varies jointly as the current I and the resistance R,
is translated as V = kIR
B.) Translate each mathematical equation into variation statement.
a. P = kqr is translated as P varies jointly as q and r.
b. V = klwh is translated as V varies jointly as l, w, and h.
c. E = kmv2 is translated as E varies jointly as m and the square of v.
Problem Solving Involving Joint Variation
Example 1: Find the constant of variation and the equation of the relation where a varies jointly as b and c,
and a = 36 when b = 3 and c = 4.
Step 1: Write the correct equation. Joint
variation problems are solved using the equation a = kbc
a = kbc.
Step 2: Use the information given in the 36 = k(3)(4) By Substitution Property
problem to find the value of k. In this case, you
36 = 12k
need to find k when a = 36, b = 3 and c = 4.
36
=k
12
3 = k or k = 3
Step 3: Rewrite the equation in step 1 by a = kbc , where k =3
substituting the value of k in step 2. a = 3bc Equation of variation
Example 2: The area A of a triangle varies jointly as the base b and the height h. A triangle with a base
of 8 cm and a height of 9 cm has an area of 36 cm2. Find the area when the base is 10 cm
and the height is 7 cm.
Given: base b = 8 cm; height h = 9 cm; A = 36 m2 find A when b = 10 cm, h = 7 cm
Step 1: Write the correct equation. Joint a = kbc
variation problems are solved using the equation
A = kbh
a = kbc.
Step 2: Use the information given in the 36 = k (8)(9) By Substitution Property
problem to find the value of k. In this case, you
36 = 72k Simplify
need to find k when A = 36 m2, b = 8 cm and h =
9 cm. 36
= k By Division Property
72
1
= k
2
1
k= constant of variation
2
Step 3: Rewrite the equation in step 1 by A = kbh
substituting the value of k found in step 2.
1
A= bh
2
Step 4: Use the equation in step 3 and the 1
remaining information given in the problem to A= bh
2
answer the question asked. In this case, you need
to find A when b = 10 cm and h = 7 cm. 1
A= (10)(7)
2
Note: The area of a triangle is expressed in
square units. 70
A= ; A = 35 cm2
2
What’s More
A.) Translate each statement into mathematical equation.
1. The force F exerted on an object varies jointly as the mass m of the object and the acceleration a
produced.
2. Area A of a rectangle varies jointly with length l and width w.
B.) Solve the following problems:
1. Z varies jointly as x and y. If z = 18 when x = 3 and y = 2, find the constant of variation and the
equation of the relation.
Lesson 3 Combined Variation
What is it
Combined variation is a variation where a quantity depends on two (or more) other quantities,
and varies directly with some of them and varies inversely with others.
kx zy
The statement “z varies directly as x and inversely as y” means z = , or k = , where k is the
y x
constant of variation. This kind of variation involves both direct and inverse variations.
1
Examples:
a. The electrical resistance of a wire varies directly as its length and inversely as the square of its
diameter.
b. The number of minutes needed to solve an exercise set of variation problems varies directly as the
number of problems and inversely as the number of people working on the solutions.
Translating Statements into Mathematical Equations
Examples:
a. The pressure P of a gas varies directly as its temperature T and inversely as its volume V.
P varies directly as T and inversely as V
kT
Mathematical Equation: P =
V
b. The electrical resistance R of a wire varies directly as its length l and inversely as the square of
its diameter d.
R varies directly as l and inversely as d2
kl
Mathematical Equation: R = 2
d
c. T varies directly as a and inversely as b.
ka
T=
b
d. Y varies directly as x and inversely as the square of z.
kx
Y= 2
z
Translating Mathematical Equations into Statements
Examples:
kt
a. W = W varies directly as t and inversely as r.
r
2
kx
b. S = S varies directly as the square of x and inversely as y.
y
2
kbd
c. m = m varies directly as b and square of d and inversely as l.
l
Solving Problems Involving Combined Variations
Example 1: Find the constant and the equation of variation, if z varies directly as x and inversely
as y, and z = 9 when x = 6 and y = 2. Find z when x = 8 and y = 12.
Given: z = 9, x = 6 , y = 2 find z when x = 8 and y = 12
Step 1: Write the correct equation.
Combined variation problems are kx
solved using the equation z =
y
kx
z =
y
Step 2: Use the information given kx
in the problem to find the value of z = Substitute the values of z, x, and y.
y
k. In this case, you need to find k
when z = 9, x = 6 and y = 2. k (6)
9= Multiply both sides of the equation by 2.
2
18 = 6k
18 6 k
= Simplify.
6 6
3 = k or k = 3 constant of variation
Step 3: Rewrite the equation in step kx
1 by substituting the value of k in z =
y
2
step 2. 3x
z=
y
Step 4: Use the equation in step 3 3x
and the remaining information z =
y
given in the problem to answer the 3(8)
question asked. In this case, you z =
need to find z when x = 8 and y = 12
12. 24
z =
12
z = 2
Example 2: The volume V of a gas varies directly as its temperature t and inversely as its pressure p.
If the V = 80 ml when t = 300 and p = 10k g/cm2, what would be the volume when
t = 200 and p = 20 kg/cm2?
Given: V = 80 ml, t = 300 and p = 10 kg/cm2, find V when t = 200 and p = 20 kg/cm2.
Step 1: Write the correct equation. Combined kx
variation problems are solved using the equation z =
y
kx
z = kt
y V=
p
Step 2: Use the information given in the kt
problem to find the value of k. In this case, you V=
p
need to find k when V = 80 ml, t = 300 and p = k (30)
10kg/cm2. 80 = By Substitution Property
10
800 = 30k
800 30 k
=
26.67 = k
30 30
k = 26.67 constant of variation
Step 3: Rewrite the equation in step 1 by 26.67 t
substituting the value of k in step 2. V =
p
Step 4: Use the equation in step 3 and the
remaining information given in the problem to 26.67(20)
answer the question asked. In this case, you need V=
20
to find V when t = 200 and p = 20 kg/cm2.
V = 26.67ml
What’s More
Solve the following problems:
1.) Find the constant of variation and the equation of the relation if w varies directly as x and y, and
inversely as v2 and w = 1000 when x = 4, y = 5 and v = 2.
2.) The force of attraction F of a body varies directly as its mass m and inversely as the square of the
distance d from the body. When m = 8 kilograms and d = 4 meters, F = 80 Newtons. Find F when
m = 16 kilograms and d = 8 meters.
Assessment
Multiple Choice.
3
Directions: Read each item carefully. Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your answer on a
separate sheet of paper.
1. The electrical voltage V varies jointly as the current I and the resistance R. This relationship is written as
kI k
a. V = kIR b. R = IV c. V = d. V =
R IR
2. Which of the following situations illustrates combined variation?
a. P varies jointly as m and r.
b. The area A of a triangle is proportional to its height h.
c. The length l of a rectangular field varies inversely as its width w.
d. W varies jointly as c and the square of a and inversely as b.
3. z varies jointly as x and y. If z = 16 when x = 4 and y = 6, find the constant of variation.
2 3 5 8
a. b. c. d.
3 2 2 3
4. The volume of a cylinder V varies jointly as its height h and the square of the radius r. Which of the
following is the mathematical equation of the given statement?
h kh
a. V = hr2 b. V = 2 c. V = kh r 2 d. V = 2
r r
5. Which is an example of a combined variation?
k kb
a. A = kbh b. A = c. A = kb h 2 d. V =
h h
6. If s varies directly as t and inversely as v, then which of the following equations describes the
relation among the three variables s, t, and v?
kt kv 1 kv k
a. s = b. s = c. = d. p =
v t p t tv
7. Which situation illustrates a joint variation?
a. The volume of a pyramid to the area of the base and the altitude.
b. The number of hours to finish a job to the number of men working
c. The area of the wall to the amount of paint used to cover it
d. The time a teacher spends checking papers to the number of students
8. z varies jointly as x and y. If z = 3 when x = 3 and y = 15, find z when x = 6 and y = 9.
8 18
a. z = b. c. 5 d. 8
5 5
9. The pressure P of a gas varies directly as its temperature t and inversely as its volume V. What is
the equation of variation?
kt kt
a. P = ktV b. V = ktP c. V = d. P =
P V
10. The mass m of a rectangular sheet of wood varies jointly as the length l and the width w. When the
length is 20 cm and the width is 10 cm, the mass is 200 grams. Find the mass when the length is 15 cm
and the width is 10 cm.
a. 105 grams b. 115 grams c. 135 grams
