is saying x is directly propotional to y the same as saying x=y?
2007-11-18 18:48:26 · 4 answers · asked by Omar 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
No, when you say that a number (y) is directly proportional to another (x) , you are saying that if the the value of y increases, then the value of x must also increase. The formula for computing force in physics is an example of this. F=ma the force is directly proportional to the mass and/or the acceleration of the particle. The bigger the mass the larger the force at a constant acceleration, and the larger the acceleration the greater the force for a fixed mass.
2007-11-18 19:01:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Not all the time. When saying directly proportional, there is a constant factor. For example F = ma, m is the constant factor. And, F is directly proportional to a. But NOT F = a.
2007-11-18 18:55:54 · answer #2 · answered by rnygelle87 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It means that x = y times a constant. That constant could be 1, but not necessarily.
2007-11-18 18:55:23 · answer #3 · answered by gp4rts 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not at all.
2007-11-18 18:51:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋