an inverse proportion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an inverse proportion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts involving mathematics or relationships between variables, particularly when discussing how one quantity decreases as another increases. Example: "In physics, the relationship between pressure and volume in a gas is an inverse proportion; as the volume increases, the pressure decreases."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

As I grew into adolescence and beyond, however, my writing shrank in what seemed to be an inverse proportion to my years.

The New Yorker

FOR the men who have so long dominated Silicon Valley, the casualness of their clothing has seemed to bear an inverse proportion to the magnitude of their innovations.

The New York Times

The LED chip temperature has an inverse proportion with the LED lifetime.

Microelectronics Reliability

While Galileo's application of mathematics to experimental physics was innovative, his mathematical methods were the standard ones of the day, including dozens of examples of an inverse proportion square root method passed down from Fibonacci and Archimedes.

Wikipedia

The potential energy of an electron in an atom is negative, its dependence of its position reaches the minimum (the most absolute value) inside the nucleus, and vanishes when the distance from the nucleus goes to infinity, roughly in an inverse proportion to the distance.

Wikipedia

In line with these findings, the number of PNs increased in the infected animals in an inverse proportion to the activated microglial numbers in CA3, recovering the integrity of the extracellular matrix and normal behavior.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

So it was on Monday, when the renewal of Trident enticed various self-dramatising nebbishes – the ones who confuse histrionics with importance – to make a din in inverse proportion to their  relevance.

Independent

Here, y = linear function (x) is y = x and (x i, y i ) ∈ A. R2(A) is in inverse proportion to the variance of the error between the linear function and the data of set A. As shown in Figure 11, larger values of R2 tend to indicate that the data points are closer to the fitted regression line.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

As economists long ago figured out, buyers and sellers share a tax in inverse proportion to elasticity.

Huffington Post

Among these subjects, only a fraction, in inverse proportion with the interval between two appointments, was reported.

BMC Psychiatry

These trips are guided by an unstated hypothesis: a trip is memorable in inverse proportion to the number of bars of coverage on your cellphone.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the relationship between two variables, use "an inverse proportion" to clearly indicate that as one quantity increases, the other decreases, maintaining a constant product. Ensure this relationship is mathematically accurate and relevant to the context.

Common error

Avoid using "an inverse proportion" when a direct proportion is more appropriate. A direct proportion means that as one quantity increases, the other increases as well, whereas an inverse proportion means that as one quantity increases, the other decreases. Always verify the relationship's direction before using either term.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an inverse proportion" functions as a noun phrase, typically used to describe a specific type of relationship between two variables where their product remains constant. Ludwig's examples confirm this usage across different domains.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

61%

News & Media

31%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "an inverse proportion" is a grammatically sound noun phrase used to describe a relationship where an increase in one quantity results in a decrease in another. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage across various fields, particularly science and news media. Related phrases include "an inverse relationship" and "a negative correlation". When using the phrase, it's crucial to distinguish it from a direct proportion to accurately represent the relationship between the variables. Ludwig's analysis highlights the phrase's formal register, making it suitable for academic, scientific, and professional contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an inverse relationship

Replaces "proportion" with "relationship", a more general term indicating a connection between two variables.

a negative correlation

Emphasizes the statistical aspect of the inverse relationship, focusing on how two variables move in opposite directions.

a reciprocal connection

Highlights the mutual influence and interdependence where one variable affects the other in reverse.

an opposing correlation

Focuses on the opposition in the way the two variables relate to each other.

a contrary association

Uses "contrary" to show the variables are associated in a way that one increases as the other decreases.

an indirect variance

Suggests that the variables change in opposing ways, but may not have an equal magnitude of change.

an inverse variance

Focuses on the variance, indicating that as one variable's variance increases, the other decreases.

a reverse dependence

Underscores the reliance of one variable on the other, but in a manner where an increase in one causes a decrease in the other.

a conflicting trend

Highlights that two variables are trending in opposite directions.

a counter correlation

Uses "counter" to illustrate the opposing effect or influence between two variables.

FAQs

How do I use "an inverse proportion" in a sentence?

You can use "an inverse proportion" to describe a relationship where one variable increases as the other decreases. For example, "There is an inverse proportion between the price of a product and the quantity demanded".

What can I say instead of "an inverse proportion"?

You can use alternatives like "an inverse relationship", "a negative correlation", or "a reciprocal connection depending on the context.

Which is correct, "an inverse proportion" or "an inverse relationship"?

Both "an inverse proportion" and "an inverse relationship" are correct, but "an inverse proportion" implies a specific mathematical relationship where the product of the two variables is constant. "An inverse relationship" is a more general term.

What's the difference between "an inverse proportion" and "a direct proportion"?

In "an inverse proportion", as one variable increases, the other decreases. In contrast, with "a direct proportion", as one variable increases, the other also increases.