<< Chapter < Page Chapter >> Page >

Using tabular form to write an equation for a linear function

[link] relates the number of rats in a population to time, in weeks. Use the table to write a linear equation.

w , number of weeks 0 2 4 6
P(w) , number of rats 1000 1080 1160 1240

We can see from the table that the initial value for the number of rats is 1000, so b = 1000.

Rather than solving for m , we can tell from looking at the table that the population increases by 80 for every 2 weeks that pass. This means that the rate of change is 80 rats per 2 weeks, which can be simplified to 40 rats per week.

P ( w ) = 40 w + 1000

If we did not notice the rate of change from the table we could still solve for the slope using any two points from the table. For example, using ( 2 , 1080 ) and ( 6 , 1240 )

m = 1240 1080 6 2    = 160 4    = 40
Got questions? Get instant answers now!
Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Is the initial value always provided in a table of values like [link] ?

No. Sometimes the initial value is provided in a table of values, but sometimes it is not. If you see an input of 0, then the initial value would be the corresponding output. If the initial value is not provided because there is no value of input on the table equal to 0, find the slope, substitute one coordinate pair and the slope into f ( x ) = m x + b , and solve for b .

A new plant food was introduced to a young tree to test its effect on the height of the tree. [link] shows the height of the tree, in feet, x months since the measurements began. Write a linear function, H ( x ) , where x is the number of months since the start of the experiment.

x 0 2 4 8 12
H ( x ) 12.5 13.5 14.5 16.5 18.5

H ( x ) = 0.5 x + 12.5

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Access this online resource for additional instruction and practice with linear functions.

Key equations

slope-intercept form of a line f ( x ) = m x + b
slope m = change in output (rise) change in input (run) = Δ y Δ x = y 2 y 1 x 2 x 1
point-slope form of a line y y 1 = m ( x x 1 )

Key concepts

  • The ordered pairs given by a linear function represent points on a line.
  • Linear functions can be represented in words, function notation, tabular form, and graphical form. See [link] .
  • The rate of change of a linear function is also known as the slope.
  • An equation in the slope-intercept form of a line includes the slope and the initial value of the function.
  • The initial value, or y -intercept, is the output value when the input of a linear function is zero. It is the y -value of the point at which the line crosses the y -axis.
  • An increasing linear function results in a graph that slants upward from left to right and has a positive slope.
  • A decreasing linear function results in a graph that slants downward from left to right and has a negative slope.
  • A constant linear function results in a graph that is a horizontal line.
  • Analyzing the slope within the context of a problem indicates whether a linear function is increasing, decreasing, or constant. See [link] .
  • The slope of a linear function can be calculated by dividing the difference between y -values by the difference in corresponding x -values of any two points on the line. See [link] and [link] .
  • The slope and initial value can be determined given a graph or any two points on the line.
  • One type of function notation is the slope-intercept form of an equation.
  • The point-slope form is useful for finding a linear equation when given the slope of a line and one point. See [link] .
  • The point-slope form is also convenient for finding a linear equation when given two points through which a line passes. See [link] .
  • The equation for a linear function can be written if the slope m and initial value b are known. See [link] , [link] , and [link] .
  • A linear function can be used to solve real-world problems. See [link] and [link] .
  • A linear function can be written from tabular form. See [link] .

Questions & Answers

summarize halerambos & holbon
David Reply
the Three stages of Auguste Comte
Clementina Reply
what are agents of socialization
Antonio Reply
sociology of education
Nuhu Reply
definition of sociology of education
Nuhu
what is culture
Abdulrahim Reply
shared beliefs, values, and practices
AI-Robot
What are the two type of scientific method
ogunniran Reply
I'm willing to join you
Aceng Reply
what are the scientific method of sociology
Man
what is socialization
ogunniran Reply
the process wherein people come to understand societal norms and expectations, to accept society's beliefs, and to be aware of societal values
AI-Robot
scientific method in doing research
ogunniran
defimition of sickness in afica
Anita
Cosmology
ogunniran
Hmmm
ogunniran
list and explain the terms that found in society
REMMY Reply
list and explain the terms that found in society
Mukhtar
what are the agents of socialization
Antonio
Family Peer group Institution
Abdulwajud
I mean the definition
Antonio
ways of perceived deviance indifferent society
Naomi Reply
reasons of joining groups
SAM
to bring development to the nation at large
Hyellafiya
entails of consultative and consensus building from others
Gadama
World first Sociologist?
Abu
What is evolutionary model
Muhammad Reply
Evolution models refer to mathematical and computational representations of the processes involved in biological evolution. These models aim to simulate and understand how species change over time through mechanisms such as natural selection, genetic drift, and mutation. Evolutionary models can be u
faruk
what are the modern trends in religious behaviours
Selekeye Reply
what are social norms
Daniel Reply
shared standards of acceptable behavior by the group or appropriate behavior in a particular institution or those behaviors that are acceptable in a society
Lucius
that is how i understood it
Lucius
examples of societal norms
Diamond
Discuss the characteristics of the research located within positivist and the interpretivist paradigm
Tariro Reply
what is Industrialisation
Selekeye Reply
industrialization
Angelo
Got questions? Join the online conversation and get instant answers!
Jobilize.com Reply
Practice Key Terms 7

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, Precalculus. OpenStax CNX. Jan 19, 2016 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11667/1.6
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'Precalculus' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask