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Ratio & ProportionExam Tips

Common Mistakes

Part of Inverse Proportion — GCSE Mathematics

This exam tips covers Common Mistakes within Inverse Proportion for GCSE Mathematics. Revise Inverse Proportion in Ratio & Proportion for GCSE Mathematics with 15 exam-style questions and 10 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 5 of 5 in this topic. Treat this as a marking guide for what examiners are looking for, not just a fact list.

Topic position

Section 5 of 5

Practice

15 questions

Recall

10 flashcards

Common Mistakes

  • WRONG: Using y = kx for inverse (that's direct!) (Should be y = k/x)
  • WRONG: More workers take MORE time (Inverse means opposite!)
  • RIGHT: Check logic - does your answer make sense?

Keep building this topic

Read this section alongside the surrounding pages in Inverse Proportion. That gives you the full topic sequence instead of a single isolated revision point.

Worked ExampleThe Opposite of DirectKey Features of Inverse Proportion

Practice Questions for Inverse Proportion

Which of the following correctly reads the mathematical statement y ∝ 1/x?

  • A. y is directly proportional to x
  • B. y is inversely proportional to x
  • C. y equals 1 divided by x
  • D. y is greater than x
1 markfoundation

Explain what it means for y to be inversely proportional to x. Your answer should refer to the equation and the graph.

2 marksstandard

Quick Recall Flashcards

What shape is the graph of y = k/x?
A hyperbola — a curved line that never touches either axis. For k > 0, the curve is in the 1st and 3rd quadrants.
What is the formula for inverse proportion?
y = k/x, where k is the constant of proportionality. The product xy is always constant.

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Inverse Proportion