Steply

Linear or not: x 0, 1, 2, 3; y 0, 1, 4, 9

Step by step, with the reason for every step · Linear or not · Algebra 1

Step by step

The question

Question: is this table linear: x is 0, 1, 2, 3, and y is 0, 1, 4, 9?

x: 0, 1, 2, 3; y: 0, 1, 4, 9

Linear means: a straight line.

y changes by the same amount every time x goes up by 1.

linear = y changes by the same amount
for each 1 of x

We write it as a table.

1 Check the changes

From one y to the next: plus 1, then plus 3, then plus 5.

The changes are not the same.

So it is not linear.

= not the same → not linear

Careful!

Going up every time is not enough.

A line changes by the same amount every time.

Careful: it goes up every time, but by different amounts

2 Check

Let's check on a graph.

We put in the points.

The line through the first two points misses the others: the points bend away.

So the answer is right!

Let's look back.

First: check the changes.

Last: check.

Answer
Careful: it goes up every time, but by different amounts

Your turn

Try this one yourself, then check:

Is this table linear: x: 0, 1, 2, 3; y: 1, 2, 5, 10
Show the answer
not linear

More from Linear or not

The whole lesson: Linear or not →