Combining Direct and Indirect Variations in Solving for Unknown Variables

  • Thread starter Thread starter you878
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Variation
AI Thread Summary
To solve for the unknown variable t when s varies directly as r and inversely as t, the relationship can be expressed as s = k(r/t). Given s = 10 when r = 5 and t = 3, the constant k can be determined. The challenge lies in combining direct and indirect variations into a single equation. By substituting the known values into the equation, one can derive the value of t when s = 3 and r = 4. Understanding how to consolidate these variations is essential for solving such problems effectively.
you878
Messages
9
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


s varies directly as r and inversely as t. s=10 when r=5 and t=3. What value of t will s=3 and r-4?

Homework Equations


Direct variation: y=kx; Indirect variation: y=k/x

The Attempt at a Solution


I tired s=kr=k/x and plugging in the given, but I could not get t in the end.

My real question is how to combine variations, meaning: because s varies directly AND inversely, how do you combine the variations?
 
Physics news on Phys.org


Write everything as a single variation, using only one constant k rather than two separate expressions.
 


Got it, thanks.
 
I picked up this problem from the Schaum's series book titled "College Mathematics" by Ayres/Schmidt. It is a solved problem in the book. But what surprised me was that the solution to this problem was given in one line without any explanation. I could, therefore, not understand how the given one-line solution was reached. The one-line solution in the book says: The equation is ##x \cos{\omega} +y \sin{\omega} - 5 = 0##, ##\omega## being the parameter. From my side, the only thing I could...
Back
Top