Question

Suppose y varies inversely as x, and y = 16 when x = 1/2. Find y when x = 17.

Answer 1

Finding the proportionality constant :

• y = k/x
• 16 = k/(1/2)
• k = 8

Finding y when x = 17 :

• y = 8/(17)
• y = 8/17

The value of y is 8/17 when x = 17.