Mathematicians, physicists and engineers have many terms to describe mathematical relationships. There is usually some logic to the names chosen, although it is not always apparent if you are not aware of the math behind it. Once you understand the concepts involved, though, the connection to the words chosen becomes obvious.
If the relationship between “x” and “y” is proportional, it means that as “x” changes, “y” also changes by the same percentage. Therefore, if “x” grows by 10 percent of “x,” “y” also grows by 10 percent of “y.” To put it algebraically, y = mx, where “m” is a constant.
One way to illustrate proportionality is to consider a non-proportional relationship. Children look different than adults, even in photographs where there is no way to tell exactly how tall they are, because their proportions are different. Children have shorter limbs and bigger heads compared to their bodies than adults do. Children's features, therefore, grow at disproportionate rates as they become adults.
Mathematicians love to graph functions. A linear function is very easy to graph, because it is a straight line, hence the name. Expressed algebraically, linear functions take the form y = mx + b, where “m” is the slope of the line and “b” is the point where the line crosses the “y” axis. It is important to note that “m” or “b” or both constants can be zero or negative. If “m” is zero, the function is simply a horizontal line at a distance of “b” from the “x” axis.
Proportional and linear functions are almost identical in form. The only difference is the addition of the “b” constant to the linear function. Indeed, a proportional relationship is just a linear relationship where b = 0, or to put it another way, where the line passes through the origin (0,0). So in fact, a proportional relationship is just a special kind of linear relationship, i.e., all proportional relationships are linear relationships (although not all linear relationships are proportional).
A simple illustration of a proportional relationship would be the amount of money you earn at a fixed hourly wage of $10 an hour. At zero hours, you will have earned zero dollars, at two hours, you will have earned $20 and at five hours you will have earned $50. The relationship is linear because you will get a straight line if you graph it, and proportional because zero hours equals zero dollars.
Compare this with a linear but non-proportional relationship. For example, the amount of money you earn at $10 an hour in addition to a $100 signing bonus. Before you start working (that is, at zero hours) you have $100. After one hour, you will have $110, at two hours $120, and at five hours $150. The relationship still graphs as a straight line (making it linear) but is not proportional because doubling the time you work does not double your money.
