Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Linear equations are functions which have two variables. They have an independent and dependent variable.
Dependent Variables
Just as common sense would dictate. If something is independent, then it is on its own. But if it is dependent, then it relies on someone or something else.
y = 2x - 4
Using the equation above, y has to be the Dependent variable
Why? Because it is the variable that is being solved for
Because linear equations have two variables,there are many possible combinations of answers Those possible solutions are written as ordered pairs. Usually an ordered pair is written with the independent variable first then the dependent variable
Example:
y = 3x - 5
If we do not know which variable is independent, then we choose one. No matter which one is independent, we will still produce similar ordered pairs
( r , s ) is similar to ( s , r ) Not congruent/equal
Most of the time when we use the variables x & y in an equation, x is independent and y is dependent
There are some exceptions, but we will work with those at a much later time