# Direct and Inverse Proportions

When we say that some things are in proportion, we mean that there is a relation between those things because of which if the value of one thing changes, the value of rest of the things also changes. There are two types of proportions in Mathematics viz. Direct and Inverse Proportion. Let’s find out more about them in the topic below.

FAQs on Direct and Inverse Proportions:

Question 1: What is the formula for the inverse proportion?

Answer: As we already know that in the inverse proportion we have; ‘x × y= k’. It states that ‘x = k/y’. Therefore, forgetting the value of ‘k’ we can use the existing values and then we can use this formula for the calculation of all the unidentified values.

Question 2: How can we calculate the proportions?

Answer: As the proportion is a simple statement which says that ‘two ratios are equal’. We can write it in 2 ways: as the 2 equivalent fractions ‘a/b’ = ‘c/d’, or by the use of a colon, ‘a:b’ = ‘c:d’.

Question 3: Define the ratio and the proportion with an example?

Answer: A proportion basically is an equation having a ratio on each side. It is a statement that states that ‘the 2 ratios are equal’. ‘3/4’ = ‘6/8’ is an instance for a proportion. When any one of the 4 numbers in a proportion is undetermined, then, the cross products might be used for finding the unknown number.

Question 4: How do we use or apply the proportions?

Answer: The proportion is recited as ‘20 is to 25 as 4 is to 5’. In problems containing the proportions, we use the cross products for testing whether 2 ratios are equivalent and make a proportion.

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