Finding the variation constant and an equation of variation for the given situation.

[soulbrotha_29]

The number of representatives N that each state has varies directly as the number of people P living in the state. If New York, with 19,254,630 residents, has 29 representatives, how many representatives does Colorado, with the population of 4,665,177, have?

Thanks in advance for all of your help math GODS:cool:

 

[Deleted member 4993]

The number of representatives N that each state has varies directly as the number of people P living in the state. If New York, with 19,254,630 residents, has 29 representatives, how many representatives does Colorado, with the population of 4,665,177, have?

Thanks in advance for all of your help math GODS:cool:

equation to use:

(# of reps for NY)/(population of NY) = (# of reps for CO)/(population of CO)

We mathgods only help those who help themselves.

So,

You need to read the rules of this forum. Please read the post titled "Read before Posting" at the following URL:

http://www.freemathhelp.com/forum/th...217#post322217

We can help - we only help after you have shown your work - or ask a specific question (not a statement like "Don't know any of these")

Please share your work with us indicating exactly where you are stuck - so that we may know where to begin to help you.

 

[soulbrotha_29]

Thanks

 

[Mrspi]

The number of representatives N that each state has varies directly as the number of people P living in the state. If New York, with 19,254,630 residents, has 29 representatives, how many representatives does Colorado, with the population of 4,665,177, have?

Thanks in advance for all of your help math GODS:cool:

Do you know the "general formula" for direct variation?

y = kx

I mention this because of the question you asked in the heading to your post.......


k is known as the constant of variation.

For your problem, suppose we let x = the population of the state or P, and let y = the number of representatives which your problem calls N.

Then we could write the variation equation as

N = k*P

You are told that New York, with a population of 19,254,630, has 29 representatives. So, when P = 19,254,630, N = 29. Substitute into the variation equation:

N = k*P
29 = k * 19254630

You should be able to solve now for k, the constant of variation, and then write the variation equation using the appropriate value of k.

And once you have this variation equation completed, you should be able to USE it to find the number of representatives for any state if you know the population of that state....specifically, you can complete your exercise by finding the number of representatives for the state of Colorado.

If you're still having trouble with this, please repost showing us the work you've done. Please tell us where you are stuck, and where you are confused.