Final answer:
The equation that represents direct variation between a and b is b = a. In direct variation, when a increases, b also increases, and when a decreases, b also decreases.
Step-by-step explanation:
The equation that represents direct variation between a and b is b = a.
In direct variation, when a increases, b also increases, and when a decreases, b also decreases, but they are always in a constant ratio. This can be represented by the equation b = ka, where k is the constant of variation. In this case, since b is located the same distance from 0 as a, but in the opposite direction, the constant of variation is 1, so the equation becomes b = a.