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12.1: Inverse Variation Models

Difficulty Level: At Grade Created by: CK-12
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In Chapter 4, Lesson 6, you learned how to write direct variation models. In direct variation, the variables changed in the same way and the graph contained the origin. But what happens when the variables change in different ways? Consider the following situation.

A group of friends rent a beach house and decide to split the cost of the rent and food. Four friends pay $170 each. Five friends pay $162 each. Six friends pay $157. If nine people were to share the expense, how much would each pay?

Let’s look at this in a table.

n (number of friends) t (share of expense)
4 170
5 162
6 157
9 ???

As the number of friends gets larger, the cost per person gets smaller. This is an example of inverse variation.

An inverse variation function has the form f(x)=kx, where k is called the constant of variation and must be a counting number and x0.

To show an inverse variation relationship, use either of the phrases:

  • Is inversely proportional to
  • Varies inversely as

Example 1: Find the constant of variation of the beach house situation.

Solution: Use the inverse variation equation to find k, the constant of variation.

Solve for k:y170170×4k=kx=k4=k4×4=680

You can use this information to determine the amount of expense per person if nine people split the cost.


If nine people split the expense, each would pay $75.56.

Using a graphing calculator, look at a graph of this situation.

The graph of an inverse variation function f(x)=kx is a hyperbola. It has two branches in opposite quadrants.

If k>0, the branches are in quadrants I and III.

If k<0, the branches are in quadrants II and IV.

The graph appears to not cross the axes. In fact, this is true of any inverse variation equation of the form y=kxn. These lines are called asymptotes. Because of this, an inverse variation function has a special domain and range.

Domain: Range: x0y0

You will investigate these excluded values in later lessons of this chapter.

Example 2: The frequency, f, of sound varies inversely with wavelength, λ. A sound signal that has a wavelength of 34 meters has a frequency of 10 hertz. What frequency does a sound signal of 120 meters have?


Solve for k:Use k to answer the question:f1010×34kf=kλ=k34=k34×34=340=340120=2.83 hertz

Practice Set


CK-12 Basic Algebra: Proportionality (17:03)

  1. Define inverse variation.
  2. Using 4.6 as a reference, explain three main differences between direct variation and inverse variation.

Read each statement and decide if the relationship is direct, inverse, or neither.

  1. The weight of a book __________________ as the number of pages it contains.
  2. The temperature outside __________________ as the time of day.
  3. The amount of prize money you receive from winning the lottery __________ as the number of people who split the ticket cost.
  4. The cost of a ferry ride ___________________ as the number of times you ride.
  5. The area of a square _______________________ as the length of its side.
  6. The height from the ground ___________________ as the number of seconds you have been on a roller coaster.
  7. The time it takes to wash a car ___________________ as the number of people helping.
  8. The number of tiles it takes to tile a floor ___________________ as the size of each tile.

Graph each inverse equation. State the domain and range.

  1. y=3x
  2. y=1x2
  3. f(x)=4x
  4. y=10x
  5. h(x)=1x
  6. y=14x
  7. g(x)=2x2
  8. y=4x2
  9. y=56x

In 20–25, model each situation with an inverse variation equation, finding k. Then answer the question.

  1. y varies inversely as x. If y=24 when x=3, find y when x=1.5.
  2. d varies inversely as the cube of t. If d=23.5 when t=3, find d when x=14.
  3. If z is inversely proportional to w and z=81 when w=9, find w when z=24.
  4. If y is inversely proportional to x and y=2 when x=8, find y when \begin{align*}x=12\end{align*}.
  5. If \begin{align*}a\end{align*} is inversely proportional to the square root of \begin{align*}b\end{align*}, and \begin{align*}a=32\end{align*} when \begin{align*}b=9\end{align*}, find \begin{align*}b\end{align*} when \begin{align*}a=6\end{align*}.
  6. If \begin{align*}w\end{align*} is inversely proportional to the square of \begin{align*}u\end{align*} and \begin{align*}w=4\end{align*} when \begin{align*}u=2\end{align*}, find \begin{align*}w\end{align*} when \begin{align*}u=8\end{align*}.
  7. The law of the fulcrum states the distance from the fulcrum varies inversely as the weight of the object. Joey and Josh are on a seesaw. If Joey weighs 40 pounds and sits six feet from the fulcrum, how far would Josh have to sit to balance the seesaw? (Josh weighs 65 pounds.)
  8. The intensity of light is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the light source and the object being illuminated. A light meter that is 10 meters from a light source registers 35 lux. What intensity would it register 25 meters from the light source?
  9. Ohm’s Law states that current flowing in a wire is inversely proportional to the resistance of the wire. If the current is 2.5 amperes when the resistance is 20 ohms, find the resistance when the current is 5 amperes.
  10. The number of tiles it takes to tile a bathroom floor varies inversely as the square of the side of the tile. If it takes 112 six-inch tiles to cover a floor, how many eight-inches tiles are needed?

Mixed Review

  1. Solve and graph the solutions on a number line: \begin{align*}16 \ge -3x+5\end{align*}.
  2. Graph on a coordinate plane: \begin{align*}x=\frac{7}{14}\end{align*}.
  3. Simplify \begin{align*}\sqrt[3]{320}\end{align*}.
  4. State the Commutative Property of Multiplication.
  5. Draw the real number hierarchy and provide an example for each category.
  6. Find 17.5% of 96.

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