One kind of nonlinear function is called inverse variation In these functions, the dependent variable A value or variable that depends upon the independent value equals a constant times the inverse of the independent variable A value or variable that changes or can be manipulated by circumstancesIn symbolic form, this is the equation `y=k/x`, where `y` is the dependentI ∝ 1/ (x c) 2 Since I is proportional to the corrected count rate R (ie the actual count rate minus the background count rate) this can be written as R ∝ 1/ (x c) 2 Introducing a constant k and rearranging gives x = kR1/2c Hence a plot of x against R1/2 turns out to be a straight line if the inverse square law has been verifiedThis y is inversely proportional to x Is the same thing as y is directly proportional to 1/x Which can be written y = k x Example 4 people can paint a fence in 3 hours How long will it take 6 people to paint it?
Using Transformations To Graph Functions Of The Form
