Constant of Proportionality Calculator

Q: What is the constant of proportionality if the two variables are the same?

The constant of proportionality will be 1 . You can calculate it by dividing the dependent variable by the independent variable.

Q: Can the constant of proportionality be negative?

Yes , the constant of proportionality can be negative. The constant of proportionality will be negative when exactly one of the variables is negative.

Q: Is the constant of proportionality the same as a slope?

Yes , in most cases, the constant of proportionality is the same as a slope. They represent the rate of change between the independent and dependent variables.

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Wei Bin Loo

Wei Bin is a Product Manager based in London, leading a technology company's Product and Data functions. With a keen focus on delivering top-notch technology solutions, Wei Bin empowers businesses to unlock their full potential through innovative products, data-driven insights, and an unwavering commitment to customer value. His passion lies in guiding companies toward growth and success, leveraging the power of technology, data, and customer-centric product solutions. At Omni, Wei Bin leverages his financial expertise as a Strategy Consultant and CFA Level 2 holder to create various financial tools aimed at helping people improve their financial literacy. Outside of his professional pursuits, Wei Bin is an avid wine enthusiast with extensive knowledge and certification in the field. He also enjoys the strategic challenges of chess and poker, as well as swimming in his leisure time. See full profile

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Anna Szczepanek, PhD

Anna Szczepanek

PhD, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland

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Anna Szczepanek, PhD is a mathematician at the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, where she researches mathematical physics and applied mathematics. At Omni, Anna uses her knowledge and programming skills to create math and statistics calculators. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and reading. See full profile

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Adena Benn

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Adena Benn is a Guyanese teacher with a degree in computer science who is always reading and learning. She loves problem-solving, everything tech, and working with teenagers. She has a passion for education and is especially interested in how children learn and the teaching methods that best suit their learning styles. She grew up on a farm in Pomeroon, Guyana, where she worked alongside her parents and siblings. As such, she is just as comfortable growing plants as teaching in the classroom. In her early life, she also gained expertise as a seamstress, which she learned from her mother. By grade 9, she had already acquired her dressmaker's certificate. Today she uses her skills to design many items for her family. In her free time, Adena loves to read, take long walks, write children’s stories and poetry, travel, or spend time with her family. See full profile

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With this constant of proportionality calculator, we aim to help you to calculate the ratio that relates two dependable given values. The constant of proportionality enables you to understand how the dependent variable changes with the independent variable.

We have written this article to help you understand the following:

What the constant of proportionality is and
How to find the constant of proportionality.

We will also demonstrate some constant of proportionality examples to help you understand the concept. Let us start with the definition of the constant of proportionality.

What is constant of proportionality? Definition

The constant of proportionality is the ratio that measures the changes of the dependent variable with the changes of the independent variable. The higher the constant of proportionality, the more the dependent variable changes with the independent variable.

The constant of proportionality is the unit rate of a linear relationship. In a graph, the constant of proportionality is also called the slope or the gradient. It is defined as the m within the y = mx + c relationship. Check out our slope calculator and gradient calculator to understand these concepts in linear regression.

The constant of proportionality is usually expressed as a fraction or decimal. This is because we calculate the constant of proportionality by dividing the dependent variable by the independent variable. We will talk about this in detail in the next section.

How to find the constant of proportionality? Constant of proportionality equation

To understand the calculation of the constant of proportionality, let's look at the constant of proportionality example below:

Relationship: linear;
Independent variable, X: 10; and
Dependent variable, Y: 20.

You can compute the constant of proportionality in three steps:

Determine the independent variable, X

The first step is to determine the independent variable, X. This is the variable that is not dependent on other variables. In this example, the X is 10.
Determine the dependent variable, Y

Next, let's look at the dependent variable, Y. This is the variable that is dependent on the independent variables. The dependent variable for this example is 20.
Calculate the constant of proportionality constant of proportionality = Y / X

The last step is to calculate the metric using the constant of proportionality equation below:

constant of proportionality = Y / X.

For this example, the constant of proportionality is 20 / 10 = 2.

FAQs

What is the constant of proportionality if the two variables are the same?

The constant of proportionality will be 1. You can calculate it by dividing the dependent variable by the independent variable.

Can the constant of proportionality be negative?

Yes, the constant of proportionality can be negative. The constant of proportionality will be negative when exactly one of the variables is negative.

How can I calculate the constant of proportionality?

You can calculate the constant of proportionality in three steps:

Determine the independent variable, X.
Determine the dependent variable, Y.
Apply the constant of proportionality formula: constant of proportionality = Y / X.

Is the constant of proportionality the same as a slope?

Yes, in most cases, the constant of proportionality is the same as a slope. They represent the rate of change between the independent and dependent variables.