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Suppose that y varies directly with x and y=12 when x=-2. What is x when y=-6

Please help me!!

User AlfonsoML
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1 Answer

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Answer:

x = 1

Explanation:

You can work this several ways.

1) Consider the factor that gets you from the y-value of the known pair to the y-value of the unknown pair. Here, that factor is -6/12 = -1/2.

Then the unknown value of x is the known value multiplied by that same factor:

x = (-1/2)(-2)

x = 1

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2) You can write the equation for a "varies directly" relationship and solve for the constant of proportionality. Then you can use that equation to find the unknown value of x.

y = kx . . . . . . . . . . . . . . y varies directly with x

k = y/x = 12/-2 = -6

Now we know ...

y = -6x

Filling in the new value for y, we have ...

-6 = -6x

1 = x . . . . . . divide by -6

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3) You can write a proportion. Since we want to find a value for x, it is convenient to put that in the numerator.

-2/12 = x/-6

Multiplying by -6, we get ...

(-6)(-2)/12 = x = 1

User VallaDanger
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