SOLUTION: Consider an equation of direct variation y=kx. When x increases, does y increase or decrease?

Algebra ->  Coordinate Systems and Linear Equations  -> Linear Equations and Systems Word Problems -> SOLUTION: Consider an equation of direct variation y=kx. When x increases, does y increase or decrease?      Log On


   

Question 319727: Consider an equation of direct variation y=kx. When x increases, does y increase or decrease?
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Are we forcing 'k' to be positive? If so, then as x increases, then y increases. On the other hand, if 'k' is negative, then as x increases, then y decreases(eg, k=-2, x=1 and y=-2 compared to x=3 and y=-6). If we let k be any real number (other than zero), then we can't determine what y does when x goes up.