<p>I'm having trouble with these types of questions when they come up on SAT problems. Please explain these terms to me.</p>
<p>x= 1st variable
y= 2nd variable</p>
<p>x=1/y is inversely prop.
x=y is prop.</p>
<p>doesn't matter if it is also:</p>
<p>y=1/x
y=x</p>
<p>u get the same answer</p>
<p>For the SAT, there is often a constant involved. I'll use the letter k as the constant. So, if you have a question that reads "y is directly proportional to x", the equation should be y+kx. If the question says "y is inversely proportional to x", the equation should be y+k/x. Often the problems give you one set of (x,y) values so you can solve for k, then give you another x (or y) value and ask you to solve for y (or x)...using the value you figured out for k.</p>
<p>PeteSAT, do you mean y=kx and y=k/x?</p>
<p>Yeah, that's what I mean...weird. I'm pretty sure I typed "equals", but "plus" appeared. Either that or I just screwed up. :)</p>