Final answer:
The pressure applied by a steak knife varies inversely to the contact area of the blade. The equation is p(a) = k/a, where k is a constant. By substituting the given values, we find that the constant, k, is 60.
Step-by-step explanation:
The pressure applied by a steak knife, p(a), varies inversely to the contact area of the blade to the steak knife, a. This can be represented as the equation: p(a) = k/a, where k is a constant.
We are given that the pressure of the knife measures 10 kg/mm when its area is 6 mm2. To find the value of k, we can substitute the given values into the equation and solve for k.
10 = k/6
Multiplying both sides by 6: 60 = k
Therefore, the value of the constant k is 60. So the equation becomes: p(a) = 60/a.