proportional
Having a size or amount that changes in the same way as something else.
Having a size, amount, or degree that increases or decreases in a way that matches or corresponds to something else.
Describes two numbers or amounts when one is always a fixed times the other number.
Of two quantities: having a relationship in which one quantity is always a constant multiple of the other.
Describes a style of text where thin letters like 'i' take less space than wide letters like 'm'.
In typography and computing, describing a font in which different characters occupy different widths, rather than all characters having exactly the same width.
- Base: proportional
inversely proportional to
1one increases as the other decreases
Used in math and science to say that when one thing goes up, the other thing goes down in a fixed way, and when one goes down, the other goes up.
- The time taken is inversely proportional to the speed.
- Light intensity from a source is inversely proportional to the square of the distance.
- The gas volume is inversely proportional to the pressure at constant temperature.
proportional representation
1voting system matching seats to votes
A political voting system where parties win seats in a parliament in the same share as the number of votes they get.
- Many European countries use proportional representation in their elections.
- Supporters say proportional representation leads to fairer results.
- The party is campaigning to replace the current system with proportional representation.
proportional to
1in a matching amount compared with
Used to say that when one thing becomes bigger or smaller, another thing becomes bigger or smaller in a similar way.
- The bonus is proportional to your performance.
- The risk is proportional to the amount you invest.
- Their support should be proportional to their resources.
directly proportional to
1increases or decreases together at a constant ratio
Used in math and science to say that when one thing goes up, the other thing also goes up in a fixed way, and when one goes down, the other also goes down.
- In this law, pressure is directly proportional to temperature.
- The cost is directly proportional to the number of users.
- The current flowing through the resistor is directly proportional to the voltage.
directly proportional to
2changes at same rate as another thing
When one thing changes, another thing changes by the same rate or amount in the same direction.
- The cost is directly proportional to the amount you buy.
- In physics, acceleration is directly proportional to force.