(Solved) How can you tell whether an equation is a linear equation?

fireflower

wrote...

Go to Answer

Posts: 34

Rep:

11 years ago

How can you tell whether an equation is a linear equation?

Today is the first day of school and my Algebra 2 teacher gave us homework for a review of algebra 1. it has been 2 years since i taken algebra 1 (i took it in 8th grade and geometry in 9th grade). The homework says "state whether each equation is a linear equation." I don't really get it. Can anyone explain and work out one of the problems: y = -3x?

Read 475 times

5 Replies

Report

Replies

smokin7acehole

wrote...

11 years ago

If the equation has a term which has only 'x' or any other variable , but not x^2, x^3 r any of that types ... or any other function like sin(x) ..etc, its linear.

Report

smrj07

wrote...

11 years ago

Usually linear equations have y on one side of the =. Htis is because when you plug in points for x, you should be able to graph a line with (x,y) points.
Hope it helps!!! Good luck in school this year!!!

Report

leonna1985

wrote...

11 years ago

y= -3x is linear because graphing it makes a straight line!!

But something like this: y=-3x² Is not linear it makes a parabola! Or y=-3x³ or y=-3x^4 etc...

Something like this: y=3 Is linear just draw a straight line across horizontally...

Also something like this: y=2/x is also not linear I think it makes a half-pipe. Not sure if the variable is the numerator or denominator.

What do you mean by work out problems... I will assume you meant graphing them..

To graph y=-3x Start with the y-intercept which is the point (0, 0) So plot the first point at the origin. Then rise 3 squares (Assuming you have graphing paper) then go to the left one square. Draw a line between the two points and you have a linear relationship!!

Hope this helped!! :]

Report

Answer accepted by topic starter

dauterjudy938

wrote...

Posts: 66

Rep:

11 years ago

This verified answer contains over 160 words.

1 Vote

BearPro

Report

Related Topics

LESHA

wrote...

11 years ago

hey i did the same thing but my school doesn't start for another 2 weeks :\ but a linear equation is usually y=mx+b m=slope and b=y-intercept and in the problem you stated, there is no b which means its on (0,0) [the origin] and you can start there and use slope which in your case is -3 which for slope is rise over run and that turns into -3/1 then you move down 3 and right 1 and to go in the opposite directiong you would flip the sign and it would turn into 3/-1 then those points you got such as (1,-3) is what your y and x are

Report

New Topic

Home Search Q & A Board Gallery Resource Library Blog Dictionary Chat	Quick Links Start a Topic Latest Topics Unanswered Questions Courses Study Tools Browse by Textbook	Social Facebook YouTube Community Stats Who's Online Trending Staff	Help About Us Take the Tour Study Tips Posting Guidelines Terms and Policies Contact Us
Biology Forums - Study Force © 2010-2024 \| Powered by SMF \| SMF © 2015, Simple Machines \| Sitemap Biology-Forums.com is not affiliated with any publisher. Book covers, title and author names appear for reference only.