OTHER DIRECT VARIATION
The formula for finding the areaAof a circle of radiusr,is
A=¼r^2.
r 0 1 2 3 4
A 0 3 : 14 12 : 57 28 : 27 50 : 27
If we graphAagainstrwe get the graph alongside. The
graph is not a straight line, but rather is part of aparabola.
However, if we graphAagainstr^2 we get this graph:
r 0 1 2 3
r^20149
A 0 3 : 14 12 : 57 28 : 27
Since the graph ofAagainstr^2 is a straight line through the
origin O,Ais directly proportional tor^2.
We write A/r^2 , and so A= kr^2 wherek is the
proportionality constant. In this case we know k=¼.
Notice from the table that asris doubled from 1 to 2 ,r^2 is
multiplied by 4. So,Ais also increased by a factor of 4.
Example 3 Self Tutor
Consider the table of values: x 2 4 6 8
y 6 24 54 a
a By finding
y
x^2
for each point, establish that y/x^2.
b Write down the rule connectingyandx.
c Find the value ofa.
a When x=2,
y
x^2
=
6
22
=1: 5
When x=4,
y
x^2
=
24
42
=1: 5
When x=6,
y
x^2
=
54
62
=1: 5
y
x^2
=1: 5 in each case, and so y=1: 5 x^2. Hence y/x^2.
b y=1: 5 x^2
c When x=8, y=a ) a=1: 5 £ 82 =96.
r
A
40
20
5
10
30
50
O
A
30
10
20
5 10
r^2
O
608 Variation and power modelling (Chapter 30)
IGCSE01
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Y:\HAESE\IGCSE01\IG01_30\608IGCSE01_30.CDR Monday, 27 October 2008 2:57:32 PM PETER