Question

Difficulty: HardDirect, Inverse, Joint and Partial Variation

A quantity PP varies partially as xx and partially as the square of yy. When x=2x = 2 and y=3y = 3, P=24P = 24, and when x=5x = 5 and y=1y = 1, P=17P = 17. What is the value of PP when x=4x = 4 and y=3y = 3?

  1. 30Answer
  2. B
    35
  3. C
    26
  4. D
    21

Answer

The value of PP is 30.
The relationship follows the partial variation formula P=k1x+k2y2P = k_1 x + k_2 y^2. Substituting the given conditions gives 2k1+9k2=242k_1 + 9k_2 = 24 and 5k1+k2=175k_1 + k_2 = 17. Solving these simultaneous equations yields k1=3k_1 = 3 and k2=2k_2 = 2. Evaluating P=3(4)+2(32)P = 3(4) + 2(3^2) produces 12+18=3012 + 18 = 30.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Set up the general formula for partial variation.
P=k1x+k2y2P = k_1 x + k_2 y^2, where k1k_1 and k2k_2 are constants.
Partial variation combines terms linearly with separate variation constants.
2
Substitute the given pairs of values to form simultaneous linear equations.
Equation (1): 2k1+9k2=242k_1 + 9k_2 = 24; Equation (2): 5k1+k2=175k_1 + k_2 = 17.
Plugging in (x=2,y=3,P=24)(x=2, y=3, P=24) and (x=5,y=1,P=17)(x=5, y=1, P=17) creates a system of equations in terms of k1k_1 and k2k_2.
3
Solve the simultaneous linear equations for k1k_1 and k2k_2.
From Equation (2), k2=175k1k_2 = 17 - 5k_1. Substitute into Equation (1): 2k1+9(175k1)=24    43k1=129    k1=32k_1 + 9(17 - 5k_1) = 24 \implies -43k_1 = -129 \implies k_1 = 3. Then k2=175(3)=2k_2 = 17 - 5(3) = 2.
Finding the specific values of the variation constants is required to complete the formula.
4
Calculate PP for x=4x = 4 and y=3y = 3 using the complete formula P=3x+2y2P = 3x + 2y^2.
P=3(4)+2(32)=12+2(9)=12+18=30P = 3(4) + 2(3^2) = 12 + 2(9) = 12 + 18 = 30.
Evaluating the relationship with the target parameters produces the final answer.

Key Concept

Partial Variation and Simultaneous Linear Equations
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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