SOLUTION: Hi, How do you tell if a function is linear? Example of a question would be: State whether this is linear. I know that the equation f(x) = mx + b is used, but can someone give m

Algebra ->  Linear-equations -> SOLUTION: Hi, How do you tell if a function is linear? Example of a question would be: State whether this is linear. I know that the equation f(x) = mx + b is used, but can someone give m      Log On


   

Question 14015: Hi,
How do you tell if a function is linear? Example of a question would be: State whether this is linear. I know that the equation f(x) = mx + b is used, but can someone give me an example, please?
Thanks so much! I really appreciate it!
Answer by bam878s(77) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Any easy way to look at an equation and know if it is linear or not is to look at the degree of the function. The degree is simple the exponent of x. For example the function y=x%5E2 is a function of degree 2. y=3x%5E3%2B24is a function fo degree 3. Linear functions are functions that have a degree of one, that is, f(x)= mx+b where x,b are constants. A function with a higher degree will not be linear here's some graphs to illustrate.
y=x
graph%28300%2C200%2C-10%2C10%2C-10%2C10%2Cx%29.
y=x%5E2
graph%28300%2C200%2C-10%2C10%2C-10%2C10%2Cx%5E2%29.
y=x%5E3
graph%28300%2C200%2C-10%2C10%2C-10%2C10%2Cx%5E3%29
y=x%5E4
graph%28300%2C200%2C-10%2C10%2C-10%2C10%2Cx%5E4%29
y=x%5E5
graph%28300%2C200%2C-10%2C10%2C-10%2C10%2Cx%5E5%29
Hope this helps