Directly proportional:
If an increase/decrease in one quantity leads to an increase/decrease in the other quantity or vice-versa, the two quantities are said to be directly proportional to each other.
x and y are directly proportional if the ratio
y/x is constant i.e. y can be written as a constant multiple of x. i.e. y = kx. It is also denoted as:
y ∝ x.
Thus, Speed is directly proportional to distance
here as speed decreases, distance also decreases or vice -versa.
Example 1:
If 15 toys cost Rs. 234, what do 35 toys cost?
Solution:
Let the required cost be Rs. x. then,
More toys, More cost (Direct Proportion)
∴ 15 : 35 :: 234 : [latex]x[/latex] ⇔ (15 x [latex]x[/latex]) = (35 x 234) ⇔ [latex]x[/latex] = ([latex]\frac{35 \times 234}{15}[/latex]) = 546.
Example 2:
If the wages of 6 men for 15 days-be Rs. 2100, then find the wages of 9 men for 12 days.
Solution:
Let the required wages be Rs. [latex]x[/latex].
More men, More wages (Direct Proportion)
Less days, Less wages (Direct Proportion)
\begin{equation}
\left.
\begin{array}{@{}r@{\quad}ccrr@{}}
\textrm{Men} & & 6 : 9 \\
\textrm{Days} & & 15 : 12 \\
\end{array}
\mkern18mu\right\} \textrm{:: 2100 : x}
\end{equation}
∴ (6 x 15 x [latex]x[/latex]) = (9 x 12 x 2100) ⇔ [latex]x[/latex] = ([latex]\frac{9 \times 12 \times 2100}{6 \times 15}[/latex]) = 2520.
Hence, the required wages are Rs. 2520.
Example 3:
If 20 men can build a wall 56 meters long in 6 days, what length of a similar wall can be built by 35 men in 3 days?
Solution:
Let the required length be [latex]x[/latex] meters.
More men, More length built (Direct Proportion)
Less days, Less length built (Direct Proportion)
\begin{equation}
\left.
\begin{array}{@{}r@{\quad}ccrr@{}}
\textrm{Men} & & 20 : 35 \\
\textrm{Days} & & 6 : 3 \\
\end{array}
\mkern18mu\right\} \textrm{:: 56 : x}
\end{equation}
∴ (20 x 6 x [latex]x[/latex]) = (35 x 3 x 56) ⇔ [latex]x[/latex] = [latex]\frac{(35 \times 3 \times 56)}{120}[/latex] = 49.
Hence, the required length is 49 m.
Inversely proportional:
If one quantity increases then the other quantity decreases or vice - versa, then those quantities are said to be indirectly proportional to each other.
x and y are inversely proportional to each other, if the product yx is a constant i.e. y = k/x. It is also denoted as:
y
∝ [latex]\frac{1}{x}[/latex]
Thus, Time taken to finish a work is inversely proportional to the number of persons working at it.
Here as the number of persons increases, the time taken to complete a work decreases or vice- versa.
Note:
Compare every item with the term to be found in solving questions in chain rule.
Example 1:
If 36 men can do a piece of work in 25 hours, in how many hours will 15 men do it?
Solution:
Let the required number of hours be [latex]x[/latex]. Then,
Less men, More hours (Indirect Proportion)
∴ 15 : 36 :: 25 : [latex]x[/latex] ⇔ (15 x [latex]x[/latex]) = (36 x 25) ⇔ [latex]x[/latex] = [latex]\frac{36 \times 25}{15}[/latex] = 60.
Hence, 15 men can do it in 60 hours.
Example 2:
If 15 men, working 9 hours a day, can reap a filed in 16 days, in how many days will 18 men reap the field, working 8 hours a day?
Solution:
Let the required number of days be [latex]x[/latex].
More men, Less days (Indirect Proportion)
Less hours per day, More days (Indirect Proportion)
\begin{equation}
\left.
\begin{array}{@{}r@{\quad}ccrr@{}}
\textrm{Men} & & 18 : 15 \\
\textrm{Days} & & 8 : 9 \\
\end{array}
\mkern18mu\right\} \textrm{:: 16 : x}
\end{equation}
∴ (18 x 8 x [latex]x[/latex]) = (15 x 9 x 16) ⇔ [latex]x[/latex] = ([latex]\frac{15 \times 144}{144}[/latex]) = 15.
Hence, required number of days = 15.
Example 3:
A garrison of 3300 men had provisions for 32 days, when given at the rate of 850 gms per head. At the end of 7 days, a reinforcement arrives and it was found that the provisions will last 17 days more, when given at the rate of 825 gms per head. What is the strength of the reinforcement?
Solution:
The problem becomes:
3300 men taking 850 gms per head have provisions for (32 - 7) or 25 days. How many men taking 825 gms each have provisions for 17 days?
Less ration per head, more men (Indirect Proportion)
Less days, More men (Indirect Proportion)
\begin{equation}
\left.
\begin{array}{@{}r@{\quad}ccrr@{}}
\textrm{Ration} & & 825 : 850 \\
\textrm{Days} & & 17 : 25 \\
\end{array}
\mkern18mu\right\} \textrm{:: 3300 : x}
\end{equation}
∴ 825 x 17 x [latex]x[/latex] = 850 x 25 x 3300 or [latex]x[/latex] = [latex]\frac{850 \times 25 \times 3300}{825 \times 17}[/latex] = 5000.
∴ Strength of reinforcement = (5500 - 3300) = 1700.