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Prep 1 · Mathematics
Functions · Elementary functions

Inverse Proportionality Functions

Before you start, make sure you know: Inverse proportionality function (Secondary Year 3)
Before you start, make sure you know: Characteristics of a function (Secondary Year 3)

Ximena and her friends want to rent a padel court. The more people who chip in, the less each one pays, but it never gets down to $\$0$. What does that relationship look like on a graph, and why does the curve never touch the horizontal axis? We'll solve it at the end of the page.

Definition and domain

Linear and quadratic functions accept any value of $x$. This one is different: there is a division, and you cannot divide by $0$.

Change $k$ and watch the curve.

  • If $k>0$, the branches are in the first and third quadrants.

  • If $k<0$, they are in the second and fourth quadrants.

  • The larger $|k|$ is, the farther the curve is from the axes.

Practice★☆☆Not started
Identify in the following table whether the quantities $x$ and $y$ are inversely proportional and, if so, find the constant of proportionality $k$ and write the function…

Identify in the following table whether the quantities $x$ and $y$ are inversely proportional and, if so, find the constant of proportionality $k$ and write the function relating them.

  • $x$: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6

  • $y$: 24, 12, 8, 6, 4

Solve
Practice★☆☆Not started
Given the inverse proportion function $y = \frac{18}{x}$, calculate the value of $y$ for $x = 3$, $x = -9$ and $x = 0.5$.

Given the inverse proportion function $y = \frac{18}{x}$, calculate the value of $y$ for $x = 3$, $x = -9$ and $x = 0.5$.

Solve

Asymptotes and symmetry

Hyperbola with two branches and its asymptotes along the coordinate axes y = -12/x x = 0 y = 0
Practice★☆☆Not started
Determine the domain, the range and the equations of the asymptotes of the function $y = \frac{-8}{x}$.

Determine the domain, the range and the equations of the asymptotes of the function $y = \frac{-8}{x}$.

Solve
Practice★☆☆Not started
Match each of the following functions with the description of the quadrants in which their branches lie when plotted graphically: a) $y = \frac{5}{x}$ b)…

Match each of the following functions with the description of the quadrants in which their branches lie when plotted graphically:

  1. a) $y = \frac{5}{x}$
  2. b) $y = \frac{-2}{x}$
  3. c) $y = \frac{0.1}{x}$

Descriptions:

  1. Branches located in the first and third quadrants.

  2. Branches located in the second and fourth quadrants.

Solve
Practice★★☆Not started
Look at the following graph of an inverse proportion function and determine its constant $k$ and its algebraic expression $y = \frac{k}{x}$.

Look at the following graph of an inverse proportion function and determine its constant $k$ and its algebraic expression $y = \frac{k}{x}$.

X Y 0 2 2 (2, 6)
Solve

Translated hyperbolas

Shifting $4$ units to the left replaces $x$ with $x+4$; moving down $3$ units subtracts $3$ at the end.

Practice★☆☆Not started
State the equations of the vertical and horizontal asymptotes of the hyperbola whose algebraic expression is $y = \frac{5}{x-4} + 3$.

State the equations of the vertical and horizontal asymptotes of the hyperbola whose algebraic expression is $y = \frac{5}{x-4} + 3$.

Solve
Practice★☆☆Not started
Find the domain of definition of the rational function $y = \frac{7}{x+5}$.

Find the domain of definition of the rational function $y = \frac{7}{x+5}$.

Solve
Practice★★☆Not started
The graph of the function $y = \frac{8}{x}$ is translated in the Cartesian plane $4$ units to the left and $3$ units downwards. Write the algebraic expression of the new…

The graph of the function $y = \frac{8}{x}$ is translated in the Cartesian plane $4$ units to the left and $3$ units downwards. Write the algebraic expression of the new function, determine its domain and find the coordinates of the point where its asymptotes intersect.

Solve
Practice★★☆Not started
Find analytically the axes intercepts of the rational function $y = \frac{10}{x-2} + 5$.

Find analytically the axes intercepts of the rational function $y = \frac{10}{x-2} + 5$.

Solve
Practice★★☆Not started
Write the equation of a hyperbola of the form $y = \frac{k}{x-a} + b$ knowing that its asymptotes are the lines $x = -2$ and $y = 4$, and that its graph passes through…

Write the equation of a hyperbola of the form $y = \frac{k}{x-a} + b$ knowing that its asymptotes are the lines $x = -2$ and $y = 4$, and that its graph passes through the point $(0, 5)$.

Solve
Practice★★★Not started
From the graph of this translated hyperbola, determine the equations of its asymptotes, the coordinates of its center of symmetry and deduce its algebraic expression of…

From the graph of this translated hyperbola, determine the equations of its asymptotes, the coordinates of its center of symmetry and deduce its algebraic expression of the form $y = \frac{k}{x-a} + b$.

X Y 0 2 2 x=2 y=1 (4, 4)
Solve
Practice★★★Not started
A hyperbola of the form $y = \frac{k}{x-a} + b$ has its center of symmetry at the point $(-1, 3)$ and intersects the x-axis at $x = 1$. Find its algebraic expression and…

A hyperbola of the form $y = \frac{k}{x-a} + b$ has its center of symmetry at the point $(-1, 3)$ and intersects the x-axis at $x = 1$. Find its algebraic expression and calculate its y-axis intercept.

Solve

Increasing and decreasing behavior

Practice★★★Not started
Determine the domain, the range, the asymptotes and the axes intercepts of the function $y = \frac{-3}{x+2} - 4$. State also its intervals of increase and decrease.

Determine the domain, the range, the asymptotes and the axes intercepts of the function $y = \frac{-3}{x+2} - 4$. State also its intervals of increase and decrease.

Solve

The form $k/(x-h)+v$ and intersections

A function like $y=\dfrac{2x+7}{x+3}$ is also a hyperbola; to see this we rewrite it using division.

Practice★★★Not started
Express the rational function $y = \frac{2x+7}{x+3}$ in the form $y = \frac{k}{x-a} + b$ by performing polynomial division. Then, state the equations of its asymptotes…

Express the rational function $y = \frac{2x+7}{x+3}$ in the form $y = \frac{k}{x-a} + b$ by performing polynomial division. Then, state the equations of its asymptotes and the coordinates of its center of symmetry.

Solve
Practice★★★Not started
Find analytically the points of intersection between the hyperbola $y = \frac{-4}{x-1}$ and the line $y = -x + 4$.

Find analytically the points of intersection between the hyperbola $y = \frac{-4}{x-1}$ and the line $y = -x + 4$.

Solve
Practice★★★Not started
Find the value of the constant $k$ so that the hyperbola $y = \frac{k}{x}$ is tangent to the line $y = -x + 6$ (that is, so that they intersect at a single point).

Find the value of the constant $k$ so that the hyperbola $y = \frac{k}{x}$ is tangent to the line $y = -x + 6$ (that is, so that they intersect at a single point).

Solve

Models with inverse proportionality

It appears when more of one thing means less of another: more taps, less time; more speed, less time; more pressure, less volume. The key step is finding which product stays constant.

Back to the beginning: if the court costs $\$480$ and $x$ people play, each pays $C(x)=\dfrac{480}{x}$. It is a hyperbola with horizontal asymptote $y=0$: the cost per person goes down, but never reaches $0$. In this context $x$ is a positive integer (the logical domain).

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A lottery prize of $6\,000$ pesos is to be divided equally among a group of $x$ friends. Write the algebraic expression of the function that relates the money each…

A lottery prize of $6\,000$ pesos is to be divided equally among a group of $x$ friends. Write the algebraic expression of the function that relates the money each person receives to the number of friends, and calculate how much they receive if there are $6$ people.

Solve
Practice★☆☆Not started
To cover a fixed distance of $120$ km, the time $t$ taken (in hours) and the average speed $v$ (in km/h) are inversely proportional quantities. Write the function $v(t)$…

To cover a fixed distance of $120$ km, the time $t$ taken (in hours) and the average speed $v$ (in km/h) are inversely proportional quantities. Write the function $v(t)$ and calculate at what constant speed a car must travel if it wants to take exactly $2.5$ hours to complete the journey.

Solve
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To fill a swimming pool, $4$ taps with equal flow rate take $9$ hours. Write the function relating the filling time $t$ (in hours) to the number of open taps $n$. How…

To fill a swimming pool, $4$ taps with equal flow rate take $9$ hours. Write the function relating the filling time $t$ (in hours) to the number of open taps $n$. How long would $6$ taps take to fill the same pool?

Solve
Practice★★☆Not started
According to Boyle's law, at constant temperature, the pressure $P$ of a gas and its volume $V$ are inversely proportional quantities ($P \times V = k$). If a given gas…

According to Boyle's law, at constant temperature, the pressure $P$ of a gas and its volume $V$ are inversely proportional quantities ($P \times V = k$). If a given gas occupies a volume of $20$ liters at a pressure of $1.5$ atmospheres, write the function $V(P)$ and calculate what volume it will occupy at $3$ atmospheres.

Solve
Practice★★☆Not started
A group of people hires a padel court for $480$ pesos. Write the function $C(x)$ expressing the cost per person in terms of the number of players $x$. If the final cost…

A group of people hires a padel court for $480$ pesos. Write the function $C(x)$ expressing the cost per person in terms of the number of players $x$. If the final cost was $120$ pesos per person, how many players hired the court? What is the logical domain of this function taking into account the context of the problem?

Solve
Practice★★☆Not started
The electrical resistance $R$ (in ohms, $\Omega$) of a conducting wire of constant length is inversely proportional to its cross-sectional area $S$ (in mm$^2$). If for a…

The electrical resistance $R$ (in ohms, $\Omega$) of a conducting wire of constant length is inversely proportional to its cross-sectional area $S$ (in mm$^2$). If for a cross-section of $2 \text{ mm}^2$ the resistance is $0.02\ \Omega$, express $R$ in terms of $S$. What must the minimum cross-section of the wire be so that the resistance is less than or equal to $0.01\ \Omega$?

Solve
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An electronic components factory has daily fixed overheads of $10\,000$ pesos to turn on the machinery, and producing each unit costs $40$ pesos. Write the average cost…

An electronic components factory has daily fixed overheads of $10\,000$ pesos to turn on the machinery, and producing each unit costs $40$ pesos. Write the average cost function per unit $C_m(x)$ in terms of the number of units $x$ manufactured per day. Find its asymptotes and interpret the meaning of the horizontal asymptote in the context of the problem.

Solve
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The focal length of a thin converging lens is $20$ cm. The relationship between the object distance to the lens $s_o$ and the image distance $s_i$ is given by the…

The focal length of a thin converging lens is $20$ cm. The relationship between the object distance to the lens $s_o$ and the image distance $s_i$ is given by the equation $\frac{1}{20} = \frac{1}{s_o} + \frac{1}{s_i}$. Express $s_i$ in terms of $s_o$. What happens to the image distance when the object approaches $20$ cm from the lens from the right?

Solve

Summary

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