In the electric current flow, it is found that the resistance offered by a fixed length of wire of a given material varies inversely as the square of the diameter of the wire. If a wire 0.01 in. in diameter has a resistance of 0.417 ohm, what is the resistance of a wire of the same length and material with a diameter 0.0370 in.

Question

mathteacher1729 · Answer

@jamijo - are you having trouble translating the words into an equation?  Where did you get stuck with this problem?

anonymous · Answer

yes, i have absolutely no idea where to begin transforming this into an equation, truth be told.

mathteacher1729 · Answer

Ok no prob. Here's some quick vocab: 

k = "just a constant"

"a varies inversely as b" as an equation means a = k times 1 over b  
or a = k/b

"a varies directly as b" as an equation means a = k times b 
or a = k*b

"a varies inversely as the square of b" as an equation means a = k times 1 over b^2
or a = k/(b^2)

"a varies directly as the square of b" as an equation means a = k times b^2 
or a = k*(b^2)

Can you start translating now? :)