Variations

Question

The number of files N of the same size that a computer's hard disc will hold varies inversely as the size S of the files. Susan's hard disc will hold 1,100 files if each is 160,000 bytes long. How many files will the disc hold if each is 500,000 bytes long?

Answer 1

Inverse variation means that  N = k/S  for some constant k.  Use the given information (N = 1,100 when S = 160,000) to find out what k is equal to  

 

1,100 = k / 160,000

k = 1,100*160,000 = 176,000,000  

 

Now use this value of k to determine what N is when S = 500,000  

 

N = 176,000,000/500,000 = 352  

 

The disc will hold 352 files if each is 500,000 bytes long