pr
The key word is "equivalent (equal)" ratios.
confused

3 Ways to Determine if Proportional Relationships Exist:
Verify that a given proportion is TRUE:
To determine if a simple given proportion is true, look at the fractions. If these ratios (fractions) both reduce to the same value, the proportion is true.

Double check: the "cross multiply" of 12 • 9 = 4 • 27 is true.
prop1
This is a TRUE proportion because
both fractions reduce to 1/3.
(and because 12 • 9 = 4 • 27).

 

Does the data displayed in a table show a proportional relationship?
First, remember that not ALL tables will display a proportional relationship.
To determine if a proportional relationship exists, you need to look for equivalent (equal) ratios within the table. Hopefully your table will be relatively small, as ALL values within the table will need to be checked.
All of the entries in the table at the right will create equal ratios.
MF2
(# of mules per bale of hay = 2 : 1)
Single Feedings
mulefeed2
mf
(Bales of hay per # of mules = 1 : 2)
Hint: You could plot the points from a table onto a coordinate grid to see if you have a proportional relationship. See graph information as it pertains to proportional relationships in the section below.


Does the data displayed in a coordinate graph show a proportional relationship?
First, remember that not ALL coordinate graphs will display a proportional relationship.
To determine if a proportional relationship exists look for the data to lie on a straight line passing through the origin.

lines2
When working with a coordinate graph, it is customary
to examine the ratio y/x (instead of x/y).
(dependent variable over independent variable)

If the x and y coordinates form proportional relationships, then there is some non-changing number (a constant) that when multiplied times x will create y.
In this example, that number is 3 (y = 3x), and is called the constant of proportionality.
The constant of proportionality is the unit rate
(without any labeling units).
CPgraph
yx
Constant of Proportionality = 3/1 = 3
(the unit rate)     y = 3x
lightbulb Constant of proportionality
is the SLOPE of the line!

 

More about Constant of Proportionality:
 • It is a positive number.
• It is also called the unit rate. (Find the y-value when x = 1.)
• It is what you multiply times x to get y.
• It is typically represented by the letter k.  (y = kx   or   y/x = k)


Observing Proportionality on Coordinate Graphs:
On the graph at the right, each (x,y) coordinate indicates the number of jars of jam and the number of cups of sugar needed to produce that number of jars of jam.
(#JamJars, #CupsSugarNeeded)

The (0,0) coordinate establishes the fact that if there were no jars, there was no sugar needed.

The coordinate (1,½) establishes the unit rate ur.

The unit rate shows that the constant of proportionality for this graph is ½.
y = ½ x
jamjars
This graph demonstrates a proportional
relationship because it is a straight line
passing through the origin.

divider


ex1     
 Does the table shown at the right represent a proportional relationship?
Explain.
x
3
1
2
8
y
9
3
6
24
Solution: ex11 TRUE! Since all of the ratios are equivalent, this table is a proportional relationship. The constant of proportionality is 3.

 

ex2     
 Does the table shown at the right represent a proportional relationship?
Explain.
x
5
25
16
35
y
1
5
3
7
Solution: ex3 Since all of the ratios are NOT equivalent, this table is NOT proportional relationship.

 

ex3
The circumference of a circle is proportional to its diameter and is represented by the equation cir. What is the constant of proportionality? What does it tell you about this relationship?
Solution: The constant of proportionality is π. [y = kx where k is the constant of proportionality]. It tells you that the unit rate is 3/1 and that the ratio of C/d will always be the same (constant) and will be π.

 

ex4     
 Does the graph shown at the right represent a proportional relationship? Explain. coingraph

Solution: coinf
Since none of these ratios are equal to one another (and certainly not ALL equal to each other), this graph does not display a proportional relationship.

While the graph is a straight line, it does NOT pass through the origin.

 

divider

NOTE: The re-posting of materials (in part or whole) from this site to the Internet is copyright violation
 and is not considered "fair use" for educators. Please read the "Terms of Use".