Question

The pressure applied to a steak knife p(a) varies inversely to the contact area of theblade to the steak a The pressure of the knife measures 16 kg/mm when its area is6 mm^2. Once the area is changed what whole number would be used as thenumerator to complete the right side of this equation? p(a)=?\a

Answer 1

Given that the pressure applied, p(a), varies inversely to the contact area, a, then these variables are related by the next formula:

$p(a)=\frac{k}{a}$

where k is a constant.

Substituting with p(a) = 16 and a = 6 (units are ommited), we get:

$\begin{gathered} 16=\frac{k}{6} \\ \text{ Isolating k:} \\ 16\cdot6=k \\ 96=k \end{gathered}$

Substituting k = 96 in the formula:

$p(a)=\frac{96}{a}$