Key Concepts

• A relationship where one quantity is a constant multiplied by another quantity is called direct variation.
• Two variables that are directly proportional to one another will have a constant ratio.
• A relationship where one quantity is a constant divided by another quantity is called inverse variation.
• Two variables that are inversely proportional to one another will have a constant multiple.
• In many problems, a variable varies directly or inversely with multiple variables. We call this type of relationship joint variation.

Glossary

constant of variation

the non-zero value k that helps define the relationship between variables in direct or inverse variation

direct variation

the relationship between two variables that are a constant multiple of each other; as one quantity increases, so does the other

inverse variation

the relationship between two variables in which the product of the variables is a constant

inversely proportional

a relationship where one quantity is a constant divided by the other quantity; as one quantity increases, the other decreases

joint variation

a relationship where a variable varies directly or inversely with multiple variables

varies directly

a relationship where one quantity is a constant multiplied by the other quantity

varies inversely

a relationship where one quantity is a constant divided by the other quantity