If 4 workers can build a wall in 6 days, how long would 8 workers take? More workers = less time! When one thing increases and the other decreases in proportion, that's INVERSE proportion. The product of the two values always stays the same.
This introduction covers The Opposite of Direct 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 1 of 6 in this topic. Use this introduction to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Practice questions for Inverse Proportion
Which of the following correctly reads the mathematical statement y ∝ 1/x?
Explain what it means for y to be inversely proportional to x. Your answer should refer to the equation and the graph.
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.