The Linear Law

In this chapter you must be able to use logarithms to transform a given

relationship to linear form, and hence determine unknown constants by
considering the gradient and/or intercept.

Reduction of laws to straight line (linear) form

Non-linear functions in variables x and y can be reduced to linear

functions in the form of Y = mX + c, where m is the gradient, c is the Y-
intercept and X and Y are expressions in x and/or y. The table below
shows how the logarithmic functions can be reduced to the linear form:

functions Y X m c
y = ab x
lg y x lg b lg a
lg y = lg a + x lg b
lg y = x lg b + lg a
y = ax b
lg y = lg a + b lg x lg y lg x b lg a
lg y = b (lg x) + lg a

Questions

1. Variables x and y are related by the equation y 2 = px q. When the

graph of lg y against lg x is drawn, the resulting straight line has a
gradient of - 2 and an intercept of 0.5 on the axis of lg y. Calculate
the values of p and q. p = 10, q = - 4

2. The variables x and y are related by the equation y = Ax n . A straight

line of the graph of lg y against lg x passes through the points (1, 3)
and (2, 1). Find the values of A and n. A = 105 , n = - 2

3. The variables x and y are connected by the equation y = ax b where a

and b are constants. A straight line of lg y against lg x is drawn. The
line passes through the points (2, 0) and (0, -1). Calculate the values
of a and b and hence find the value of y when x = 5.
a = 0.1, b = 0.5, 0.2236

4. A straight line graph which passes through the points (1, 2) and (2, 5)
is obtained by plotting lg y against lg (x + 1). Find
(i) y in terms of x
( x + 1)3
y=
10
(ii) the value of y when x = 3.
6.4

1
5. The variables x and y are related in such a way that when lg y is
plotted against lg x, a straight line is obtained. Given that this line
passes through (0, 1) and (6, 4), find
(i) the value of x when lg y = 3.
10,000
(ii) The value of a and n when the relationship between x and y is
expressed in the form y = axn. a = 100, b
= √10
6. A straight line of the graph of lg y against x is drawn and passes
through the points (4, 5) and (2, 2). Find the values of the constants
A and b for which the straight line represent the equation y = Abx.
A = 0.1, b =
31.6

7. The table shows experimental values of two quantities x and y which

are known to be connected by a law of the form y = kbx.

x 1 2 3 4
y 30 75 190 470

Plot lg y against x and use your graph to estimate the values of k and
b. b = 2.45, k =
11.9

8. The following values of x and y are believed to obey a law of the form y
= abx, where a and b are constants.

x 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00

y 3.80 9.20 22.1 53.1 127.4

Show graphically that this is so and estimate the values of a and b,

correct to 1 decimal place. y = 1.6
(2.4)x

9. The following readings were obtained in an experiment.

x 20 40 60 80 100
y 55 150 280 430 600

Show graphically that, allowing for small errors of observation, there

is a relation between y and x of the form y = ax k. Find the

2
 approximate values for a and k. y = 0.60 x
1.5

10. The table below shows experimental values of two variables, x and y.

x 5 10 15 20 25
y 57.7 37.0 23.7 15.2 9.7

It is known that x and y are related by the equation y = Ae- k x,

where A and k are constants. Using graph paper, plot ln y against
x for the above data and use your graph to estimate the value of A
and of k.

(J96/4)

11. The table below shows experimental values of two variables, x and y.

x 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0

y 6.2 4.7 3.7 2.9 2.2 1.7

It is known that x and y are related by the equation y = Ab x, where A

and k are constants.
(i) Express the equation in a form suitable for drawing a straight
line graph
(ii) Draw the graph and use it to estimate the value of A and of b.
(iii) Find the values of y when x = 0.8.
(A.M
J97/4)