Question

What is the Constant of Variation in the graph shown?

Answer 1

I kind of don't get it :-S

Answer 2

Oh! Duh, sorry. One moment. I forgot how it works, just remembered.

Answer 3

Ok thanks for the help :)

Answer 4

Horrible this may be, i'll have to use *gasp* \[SPARKNOTES!\]As an online reference for this. ( http://www.sparknotes.com/math/algebra1/variation/summary.html) So, the super-short, blunt gist of this is that whenever you have a constant of variation, you can have two different normal types, a direct or inverse variation. A direct variation is when\[y = kx\], where y and x fulfill their totally normal roles and k is some constant value that you multiply by. What you have here is inverse variation, where the relationship is instead\[xy = k\], again with the same deal of the last problem. X is x, y is y, and k is some constant value. So here, what you should do is look at the coordinates. Does it look like there's a relationship between them? Look at the "first" and the "last" one from left to right, do you notice anything?

Answer 5

And I lol'd at "helphelphelp.png", haha.

Answer 6

Hahaha :-) I didn't know what else to name it :P and yes. I did notice something from the left to the right. The more you go left, the more right goes down. right?

Answer 7

Yeah! That's one trend, and it's an important trend; remember that. Now, look at the coordinate numbers for those same ones. Anything else?

Answer 8

Hmmm... umm, I'm not really sure.

Answer 9

I'll put them here. From left to right, let me assign a letter to the coordinates so it's clear. The coordinates will be A, B, C, D, from left to right. \[A = (9, 2)\]\[B = (6, 3)\]\[C = (3, 6)\]\[D = (2, 9)\]
Now, let's put the coordinates of the "first" and "last" ones next to each other.
\[(9, 2) (2, 9)\]Do you notice anything about them?

Answer 10

OH! I see it! The numbers are backwards, like 6,3 and 3,6!

Answer 11

Yeah! So, this is a general thing. Whenever you have an inversely related function, if you have some point (x,y), you can be guaranteed that there is another point in the graph with the values (y, x) of that other point. That's your first sign that it's an inversely related function. From here, all you do is have to plug into that equation for an inversely related equation to discover the constant.

Answer 12

Oh! Wow! That seems so easy now! So all I have to do is put it in the equation and then I will get the constant!

Answer 13

Thanks!!!

Answer 14

Yeah! No problem. Congrats, and good luck. If you ever need help on stuff like this, feel free to tag me.

Answer 15

Awesome! Thanks!! And I'll make sure I will!