To solve this problem, we note that when one variable varies inversely with another, it can be expressed with the equation:
y = k/x
Where:
- y is the dependent variable
- x is the independent variable
- k is the constant of variation
From the problem statement, we know two things:
- y = 40
- x = 5
The next step is to substitute these values into the equation to find k:
Substituting the values:
40 = k/5
Now, to isolate k, we can multiply both sides by 5:
40 * 5 = k
This simplifies to:
k = 200
Thus, the constant of variation is 200.