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Definition. Two magnitudes are said to be directly proportional if when multiplying or dividing one of them by a number, the other is multiplied or divided by the same number. The ratio or quotient between the second and the first magnitude is called the constant of direct proportionality. One way to solve activities of directly proportional magnitudes is by using a rule of three. However, this procedure becomes a method that is carried out completely mechanically, without really knowing what is being done. We are going to solve the exercises using another procedure that we could call reduction to unity, in which we will calculate the value of the second magnitude that corresponds to the value 1 of the first magnitude. This value that we calculate is what we have previously called the constant of direct proportionality. Problem 1: The math teacher has many exams to grade, but he prefers to spend a lot of time on each exam so as not to make mistakes. After several hours, he has realized that he grades 3 exams per hour. How many exams has he graded in 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 hours? Problem 2: Carlos observes in supermarket D1 that 3 bottles of water cost $2,700. If he buys 12 bottles, how much money will he have to pay? #directlyproportionalmagnitude