If y varies inversely as x and y = 725 when x = 20, how do you find x when y is 50?

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Answer 1 · 2017-01-04T23:04:28

#x=290# when #y=50#

When you are told that #y# varies inversely as #x#, that means that

#x*y=k#

where #k# can be any single number. If you plug in the initially given numerical values for #x# and #y# you have

#20*725=14500#

So your #k#-value becomes #14500#. Now you can say that, for this particular relation

#xy=14500#

If you want to know your #x#-value when #y=50#, you can plug #50# in for #y# and solve for #x#.

#x*50=14500#

so

#x=14500/50#

meaning that

#x=290#.