Question

If y varies inversely as x and If y = -32 when x = 2, what is x when y = 4?

Answer 1

`x=-16`

Explanation:

When `y` varies inversely as `x`, we have `yprop1/x` i.e. `y=1/x×k`, where `k` is a constant.

In other words, this means `xy=k`.

Now as `y=-32` when `x=2`, we have `32×(-2)=k` or `k=-64` i.e. `xy=-64`.

So when `y=4`, `x=-64/4=-16`.