In a proportional relationship y = kx, what does 'k' represent?

In the equation of a proportional relationship, y = kx, the variable 'k' represents the constant of proportionality. This means that 'k' determines how y changes in relation to x. When x increases or decreases, y will change by a factor of 'k'.

If you think about the relationship in terms of a graph, the line passes through the origin (0,0), and the slope of the line, which is also the value of 'k', indicates how steeply the line rises or falls. Therefore, 'k' is not just a simple ratio or simply the slope; it specifically designates the constant that maintains the proportional connection between y and x throughout their values.

In summary, 'k' gives us a consistent measure of the ratio of y to x, which reinforces its role as the constant of proportionality in this linear relationship.