Linear Functions - Research Article from World of Mathematics

This encyclopedia article consists of approximately 3 pages of information about Linear Functions.

Linear Functions - Research Article from World of Mathematics

This encyclopedia article consists of approximately 3 pages of information about Linear Functions.
This section contains 805 words
(approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page)
Buy the Linear Functions Encyclopedia Article

A linear function is a function of the form f(x) = mx + b whose graph is a straight line. When written in this form, the slope of the graph is m and the y-intercept is b. Except for constant functions, linear functions are the simplest of all mathematical functions. This is because the largest exponent of the variable x is 1 in a linear function. So a linear function is sometimes said to be a polynomial function of degree 1. In general, polynomial functions that have degree higher than 1 have more complicated graphs and require a higher level of mathematical analysis than do linear functions. The simplest linear functions are those which pass through the origin. They have y-intercept equal to 0, so their equations take the form f(x) = mx, or, equivalently, y = mx. The slope m in this equation is calculated as follows: Pick two points on...

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This section contains 805 words
(approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page)
Buy the Linear Functions Encyclopedia Article
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Linear Functions from Gale. ©2005-2006 Thomson Gale, a part of the Thomson Corporation. All rights reserved.