GCSE Mathematics (9-1)

5.3 Direct proportion — Practise with help

Try each question first. Open a hint if you are stuck, the next step for one concrete move, and the full working only to check.

Warm-up: remember

Answer these from memory. Do not look back at the section.

  1. Work out 525^2.
  2. Find the value of kk when 12=4k12=4k.
Check the warm-up
  1. 52=255^2=25.
  2. Since 12÷4=312\div4=3, k=3k=3.

If an answer differs, revisit Section 3.1 for squares and Section 1.4 for inverse operations.

Practise with help

1. yy is proportional to x2x^2. When x=3x=3, y=45y=45. Find yy when x=5x=5.

Hint

Write the model y=kx2y=kx^2 and substitute the known pair.

Next step

45=9k45=9k, so k=5k=5.

Full working

Substitute x=5x=5: y=5×25=125y=5\times25=125. Check with the scale factor: 45×(25/9)=12545\times(25/9)=125.

2. yy is proportional to xx. When x=7x=7, y=35y=35. Find yy when x=12x=12.

Hint

Write y=kxy=kx and substitute the known pair.

Next step

k=35÷7=5k=35\div7=5.

Full working

y=5×12=60y=5\times12=60. Check: 35÷7=60÷12=535\div7=60\div12=5.

3. The number of pens is directly proportional to the number of packs. 3 packs hold 36 pens. How many pens do 8 packs hold?

Hint

Direct proportion means a constant number of pens per pack.

Next step

One pack holds 36÷3=1236\div3=12 pens.

Full working

12×8=9612\times8=96 pens. Check: 96÷8=1296\div8=12.

4. Earlier learning. Work out 626^2 and (−2)3(-2)^3.

Hint

A square multiplies a number by itself. A cube multiplies it three times.

Next step

62=6×66^2=6\times6, and (−2)3=(−2)×(−2)×(−2)(-2)^3=(-2)\times(-2)\times(-2).

Full working

62=366^2=36. Also, (−2)3=−8(-2)^3=-8, because three negative factors give a negative answer.

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