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.
- Work out .
- Find the value of when .
Check the warm-up
- .
- Since , .
If an answer differs, revisit Section 3.1 for squares and Section 1.4 for inverse operations.
Practise with help
1. is proportional to . When , . Find when .
Hint
Write the model and substitute the known pair.
Next step
, so .
Full working
Substitute : . Check with the scale factor: .
2. is proportional to . When , . Find when .
Hint
Write and substitute the known pair.
Next step
.
Full working
. Check: .
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 pens.
Full working
pens. Check: .
4. Earlier learning. Work out and .
Hint
A square multiplies a number by itself. A cube multiplies it three times.
Next step
, and .
Full working
. Also, , because three negative factors give a negative answer.