SOLUTION: What is Inverse Variation and how do you begin to graph the equation for an inverse variation?

Question 105589: What is Inverse Variation and how do you begin to graph the equation for an inverse variation?
Answer by MathLover1(20850) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

The statement " varies inversely as means that when , by the same factor.
In other words, the expression is constant:

where is the constant of variation.
We can also express the relationship between and as:
where is the constant of variation.

Unlike the graph of direct variation, the graph of inverse variation is . Rather, it is a .
To graph an inverse variation, make a data table and plot points. Then connect the points with a smooth (not straight) curve. There should be two curves -- one in the first quadrant (where both and are positive) and one in the third quadrant (where both and are negative).

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