Question 179505
This questions is related to rate of change (change in population over change in time).  The statement makes sense....

a function of the form y=mx+b represents a linear function...a straight line
1. a linear function increases, decreases, or remains constant over time only...it does not do one and the other
2. The m in the equation represents these static rate of change (called slope)

On the other hand a function of the form y=ax^2+bx+c represets a quadratic function, a parabola graph....
1. The parabola is shaped like a U if a is replaced by a positive number  or upside down U if a is replaced by a negative number...
2. The statement given to you holds true for a positive quadratic...as you move from left to right (from smaller x to higher x values along the x-axis), the line goes down and then up (the y decreases, remains constant at one point, and then increases)