# The Basics of Inverse Proportion

In the previous post, we have discussed the basic of direct proportions. Recall that when two quantities $x$ and $y$ change and if $x$ changes n times, then $y$ changes n times, then we can say that $y$ is directly proportional to $x$. In this post, we are going to learn about inverse proportions.

Problem

A rectangle has area 24 square units. Find the possible areas if the length and width are both whole numbers.

Solution and Discussion

The table shows the pairs of length and width that has area 24 square units.

Notice that when the length becomes 2 times (1 becomes 2), then the width becomes ½ times (24 becomes 12). When the length becomes 3 times (1 becomes 3), then the width becomes 1/3 times (24 becomes 8). Check if this is true with the others.

When two quantities $x$ and $y$ change, and if $x$ changes 2 times, 3 times 4 times, and so on, and y changes ½ times, 1/3 times, and ¼ times, then we can say that y is inversely proportional to x.

Notice that the area of the rectangle above is constant, so the product of length and width is always constant. Therefore, if y is directly proportional to $x$, then $xy = k$, where $k$ is a constant. We can also derive the formula $y = k/x$.

As show in the previous post, the graph of a direct proportion is a straight line. Notice that the graph of inverse proportion is a curve which is high near the y-axis and approaches the x-axis as x-increases.