Is there a New Inverse Square Law? Just been shopping at Costco and it seems to me that the less items that you have in your trolley when you arrive at the checkout, the more you get charged.

so presumably if you turned up with nothing in it, they'd clear out your bank account?

And I think you really meant inverse proportion

Is there a New Inverse Square Law? Just been shopping at Costco and it seems to me that the less items that you have in your trolley when you arrive at the checkout, the more you get charged.

It depends on the price of the items, not how many you have.:)

Yes, I suppose a diamond-encrusted bag might set one back a bit...

Yes, I suppose a diamond-encrusted bag might set one back a bit...

What is inverse proportion ?

the bigger A is, the smaller the corresponding B is

and of course, vice versa

What is inverse proportion ?

It's a a bit like Dr Who's tardis or a womans handbag :roll:

the bigger A is, the smaller the corresponding B is

:huh::huh::huh:

It's a a bit like Dr Who's tardis or a womans handbag :roll:

Now thats explained it perfectly.:D

take a simple ratio--2 : 1 (i.e. the left number is twice the right one)

If you multiply both, they remain in the same ratio, e.g. 4 : 2, 8 : 4...

Inverse proportion works the other way--if you multiply one side, the other side REDUCES by the same amount

e.g. 8 : 4 would become 16 : 2 if multiplied by 2

It probably doesn't work in the Tardis!!

take a simple ratio--2 : 1 (i.e. the left number is twice the right one)

If you multiply both, they remain in the same ratio, e.g. 4 : 2, 8 : 4...

Inverse proportion works the other way--if you multiply one side, the other side REDUCES by the same amount

e.g. 8 : 4 would become 16 : 2 if multiplied by 2

Maths was my bottom subject, you do realise that dont you ?(I think I understand it )

Maths was my bottom subject, you do realise that dont you ?(I think I understand it )

I wasn't brilliant at it either, but I did get as far as that

I wasn't brilliant at it either, but I did get as far as that

Thats much farther than me then !! :D

Inverse square means that if you double one you divide the opposite by 4 (or the square of 2).

Eg 1 Mtr = 1
2 Mtr = 1/4
4 Mtr = 1/16

Inversely proportional just divides by the same number

1 = 1
2 = 1/2
4 = 1/4

Inverse square means that if you double one you divide the opposite by 4 (or the square of 2).

Eg 1 Mtr = 1
2 Mtr = 1/4
4 Mtr = 1/16

Inversely proportional just divides by the same number

1 = 1
2 = 1/2
4 = 1/4

Thanks for making that clear! Inverse square would be even more punishing then!

Its all beyond me !:roll:

Its all beyond me !:roll:

just look in your handbag, dear :D

Thank you all for replying to my original post, I've had a few chuckles reading them. The "Winning Reply Award" goes to.................(Long Drawn Out Drum Roll) to................Number 2 by Waltheof "so presumably if you turned up with nothing in it, they'd clear out your bank account?"

Please forgive any mathmatical inaccuracy in my original post, it just seemed like a good analogy at the time.