What Does Direct Variation Look Like on a Graph?

What Does Direct Variation Look Like on a Graph?

Note:

Want to know what a direct variation looks like graphically? Basically, it's a straight line that goes through the origin. To get a better picture, check out this tutorial!

Keywords:

  • definition
  • direct variation
  • direct proportionality
  • directly proportional
  • variation
  • proportionality
  • graph
  • graphical
  • plot
  • line
  • straight line

Background Tutorials

  • Constant of Proportionality

      • What's the Constant of Variation?What's the Constant of Variation?

      What's the Constant of Variation?

      The constant of variation is the number that relates two variables that are directly proportional or inversely proportional to one another. But why is it called the constant of variation? This tutorial answers that question, so take a look!

  • Proportional Relationships and Equations

      • What's the Direct Variation or Direct Proportionality Formula?What's the Direct Variation or Direct Proportionality Formula?

      What's the Direct Variation or Direct Proportionality Formula?

      Ever heard of two things being directly proportional? Well, a good example is speed and distance. The bigger your speed, the farther you'll go over a given time period. So as one variable goes up, the other goes up too, and that's the idea of direct proportionality. But you can express direct proportionality using equations, and that's an important thing to do in algebra. See how to do that in the tutorial!

  • Initial Value

      • What's the Y-Intercept?What's the Y-Intercept?

      What's the Y-Intercept?

      When you have a linear equation, the y-intercept is the point where the graph of the line crosses the y-axis. In this tutorial, learn about the y-intercept. Check it out!

  • The Slope of a Line

      • What Does the Slope of a Line Mean?What Does the Slope of a Line Mean?

      What Does the Slope of a Line Mean?

      You can't learn about linear equations without learning about slope. The slope of a line is the steepness of the line. There are many ways to think about slope. Slope is the rise over the run, the change in 'y' over the change in 'x', or the gradient of a line. Check out this tutorial to learn about slope!

  • Rate of Change and Slope

      • How Do You Find the Slope of a Line from a Graph?How Do You Find the Slope of a Line from a Graph?

      How Do You Find the Slope of a Line from a Graph?

      Trying to find the slope of a graphed line? First, identify two points on the line. Then, you could use these points to figure out the slope. In this tutorial, you'll see how to use two points on the line to find the change in 'y' and the change in 'x'. Then, you'll see how to take these values and calculate the slope. Check it out!

Further Exploration

  • Linear Equations: y=mx

      • How Do You Solve a Word Problem Using the Direct Variation Formula?How Do You Solve a Word Problem Using the Direct Variation Formula?

      How Do You Solve a Word Problem Using the Direct Variation Formula?

      Word problems allow you to see math in action! Take a look at this word problem involving an object's weight on Earth compared to its weight on the Moon. See how the formula for direct variation plays an important role in finding the solution. Then use that formula to see how much you would weigh on the Moon!

  • Direct Variation

      • How Do You Use the Formula for Direct Variation?How Do You Use the Formula for Direct Variation?

      How Do You Use the Formula for Direct Variation?

      If two things are directly proportional, you can bet that you'll need to use the formula for direct variation to solve! In this tutorial, you'll see how to use the formula for direct variation to find the constant of variation and then solve for your answer.