mastering proportionality

Question: `q013. Of the six proportionality equations y = k x, y = k x^2, y = k x^3, y = k / x, y = k / x^2, y = k / x^3, which one would apply to the surface area of the sculpture in the preceding?

Use the appropriate equation to answer the following:

If the sculpture originally had a exposed surface of are 4 square meters, what would be the surface area of the larger sculpture (per the conditions of the preceding problem)?

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

&&&

y = k / x^3

@&

4= k / 1/27

27*4= k / 1/27*27

k=108

&&&

@&

Good application of the general procedure, but you chose the wrong proportionality.

If the proportionality is y = k / x^3, then a larger value of x will result in a larger value of x^3, and hence in a smaller value of y. Since a bigger dimension x would imply a larger surface area, this proportionality doesn't apply.

You know that when you double the size of a square, it takes 4 squares of the original dimension to cover it.

So which of the proportionalities would quadruple the value of y when x is doubled?

*@

confidence rating #$&*:

** **

y = k x^2

When you double the square of 2 you get 4

4= k 2^2

so when x doubles 4 quads

...I still feel like i am doing something wrong

@&

First let me address your use of fractions (and order of operations) when you solved the equation

4= k / 1/3^3

for k.

In the first place you meant

4 = k / (1/3)^3.

k divided by 1/3 would not be k / 1 / 3, which by order of operations tells you to divide k by 1 then divide the result by 3.

k divided by 1/3 would be expressed as k / (1/3).

Of course in your equation you are cubing the 1/3. I didn't include the exponent above so we could focus on just the order of operations. Including the cube you would have to write this as

k / (1/3)^3.

This is then equal to k / (1/27), so your equation becomes

4 = k / (1/27).

Multiplying 27 by both sides of this equation doesn't help, because k / (1/27) * 27 means to divide k by 1/27, then multiply the result by 27. But k divided by 1/27 is k multiplied by 27/1, so

k / (1/27) * 27 = k * 27 * 27 = 729 k, not just k.

To solve the equation

4 = k / (1/27)

you would multiply both sides by 1/27, not by 27.

*@

*@

@&

See my notes directly above.

First be sure you understand the fractions and order of operations addressed in my first note.

Then I suggest you solve the problem in three different ways, as indicated by my second note.

If you can do this successfully you'll be well on your way to a solid mastery of the extremely important concept of proportionality.

*@

@&

Now you can use the correct proportionality

y = k x^2.

There are many ways to set this up.

You set this up by saying that

y = 4 m^2 when x = 1/3

and find y when x = 1. This would be along the lines of your original thinking, but you have to specify both values of x. I'm not sure you saw that if x for the first figure is 1/3, then x for the second has to be 1.

You could alternatively set this up as

y = 4 m^2 when x = 1

and find y when x = 3. You would get a different value of k, but the final result for the volume would be the same.

I recommend that you set this up in both ways and verify that is doesn't matter whether x goes from 1 to 3, or from 1/3 to 1. You get the same result both ways.

Another way to solve the problem is to recall that

y = k x^2

implies that

y2 / y1 = (x2 / x1)^2.

For this question, what is the ratio x2 / x1, and what therefore is the ratio y2 / y1? What do you therefore conclude is the area of the larger figure?

This reasoning will lead to the same result as before.

*@

s