Checking and securing understanding of inverse proportion graphs

I can identify inverse proportion graphs from their features and can use the graph to create an equation to algebraically model this relationship.

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Year 11

Higher

Checking and securing understanding of inverse proportion graphs

I can identify inverse proportion graphs from their features and can use the graph to create an equation to algebraically model this relationship.

Download all resources

Share activities with pupils

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Lesson details

Key learning points

Inverse proportion can be recognised graphically.
An inverse proportion graph is always a curve that does not touch either axis.
The equation is of the form y = k/x
k is the constant of proportionality.

Keywords

Inverse proportion - Two variables are inversely proportional if there is a constant multiplicative relationship between one variable and the reciprocal of the other

Common misconception

Assuming the the graph will eventually intercept the axes.

Pupils can experiment with very large numbers. Here a spreadsheet is useful to generate numbers very quickly and show that although it gets very close to zero it never actually gets there.

Use Desmos to explore the features of graphs representing inverse proportion.

Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).