Difference between revisions of "Proportion"

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==Problems==
 
==Problems==
 
===Introductory===
 
===Introductory===
[[Circle]]s with [[center]]s <math>A</math> and <math>B</math> have [[radius |radii]] 3 and 8, respectively. A common internal [[tangent]] [[intersect]]s the circles at <math>C</math> and <math>D</math>, respectively. [[Line]]s <math>AB</math> and <math>CD</math> intersect at <math>E</math>, and <math>AE=5</math>. What is <math>CD</math>? ([[2006 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 16]])
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[[Circle]]s with [[center]]s <math>A</math> and <math>B</math> have [[radius |radii]] 3 and 8, respectively. A common internal [[Tangent line|tangent]] [[intersect]]s the circles at <math>C</math> and <math>D</math>, respectively. [[Line]]s <math>AB</math> and <math>CD</math> intersect at <math>E</math>, and <math>AE=5</math>. What is <math>CD</math>? ([[2006 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 16]])
  
 
===Intermediate===
 
===Intermediate===
 
===Pre-Olympiad===
 
===Pre-Olympiad===
 
===Olympiad====
 
===Olympiad====

Revision as of 20:01, 14 September 2007

This is an AoPSWiki Word of the Week for Sep 13-19

Two numbers are said to be in proportion to each other if some numeric relationship exists between them. There are several types of proportions, each defined by a separate class of function.

Direct proportion

Direct proportion is a proportion in which one number is a multiple of the other. Direct proportion between two numbers x and y can be expressed as:

$y=kx$

where k is some real number.

The graph of a direct proportion is always linear.

Often, this will be written as $\displaystyle y \propto x \displaystyle$.

Inverse proportion

Inverse proportion is a proportion in which as one number's absolute value increases, the other's decreases in a directly proportional amount. It can be expressed as:

$xy=k$

where k is some real number that does not equal zero.

The graph of an inverse proportion is always a hyperbola, with asymptotes at the x and y axes.

Exponential proportion

A proportion in which one number is equal to a constant raised to the power of the other, or the logarithm of the other, is called an exponential proportion. It can be expressed as either:

$y = k^x\,$ or
$y = \log_k (x).\,$

for some real number k, where k is not zero or one.

Problems

Introductory

Circles with centers $A$ and $B$ have radii 3 and 8, respectively. A common internal tangent intersects the circles at $C$ and $D$, respectively. Lines $AB$ and $CD$ intersect at $E$, and $AE=5$. What is $CD$? (2006 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 16)

Intermediate

Pre-Olympiad

Olympiad=