Linear Function

What is a Linear Function?

 A linear function is a function that represents a straight line
on the coordinate plane.
 A linear function is of the form f(x) = mx + b where 'm' and
'b' are real numbers.
 A linear function is an algebraic function (An algebraic function is
a function that involves only algebraic operations. These operations
include addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and
exponentiation.) This is because it involves only algebraic
operations.
Linear Function Equation
a linear function equation is f(x) = mx + b and here
are some examples.

 f(x) = 3x - 2
 f(x) = -5x - 0.5
 f(x) =3
 Real Life Example of Linear Function

 A movie streaming service charges a monthly fee of $4.50

and an additional fee of $0.35 for every movie downloaded.
Now, the total monthly fee is represented by the linear
function f(x) = 0.35x + 4.50, where x is the number of
movies downloaded in a month.
 A t-shirt company charges a one-time fee of $50 and $7 per
T-shirt to print logos on T-shirts. So, the total fee is
expressed by the linear function f(x) = 7x + 50, where x is
the number of t-shirts
How to Find a Linear Function?
-We use the slope-intercept form or the point-slope form to find a
linear function. The process of finding a linear function is the same as the
process of finding the equation of a line.

Example: Find the linear function that has two

points (-1, 15) and (2, 27) on it.
Solution:
The given points are (x1, y1) = (-1, 15) and (x₂, y₂) = (2, 27).

Step 1: Find the slope of the function using the slope formula:
m = (y₂ - y1) / (x₂ - x1) = (27 - 15) / (2 - (-1)) = 12/3 = 4.

Step 2: Find the equation of linear function using the point slope form.
y - y1 = m (x - x1)
y - 15 = 4 (x - (-1))
y - 15 = 4 (x + 1)
y - 15 = 4x + 4
y = 4x + 19

Therefore, the equation of the linear function is, f(x) = 4x + 19.

For each of the following problems, find the
equation of the line that passes through the
following two points:
Identifying a Linear Function

If the information about a function is given as a graph, then it is linear if the graph is a
line. If the information about the function is given in the algebraic form, then it is linear if it is
of the form f(x) = mx + b.

But to see whether the given data in a table format represents a linear
function:

1. Compute the differences in x-values.

2. Compute the differences in y-values
3. Check whether the ratio of the difference in y-values to the difference
in x-values is always constant.
Example: Determine whether the following data
from the following table represents a linear function.
Solution:
We will compute the differences in x-values, differences in y values, and the ratio
(difference in y)/(difference in x) every time and see whether this ratio is a constant.
 Since all numbers in the last column are equal
to a constant, the data in the given table represents
a linear function.
Graphing a Linear Function
The graph of a linear function f(x) = mx + b is

 an increasing line when m > 0

Graphing a Linear Function
The graph of a linear function f(x) = mx + b
is
 a decreasing line when m < 0
Graphing a Linear Function
The graph of a linear function f(x) = mx + b
is
 a horizontal line when m = 0
Graphing a Linear Function

There are two ways to graph a linear

function.

1. By finding two points on it.

2. By using its slope and y-intercept.
Graphing a Linear Function by Finding Two Points
To find any two points on a linear function (line) f(x) = mx + b, we just
assume some random values for 'x' and substitute these values in the function to
find the corresponding values for y.
 The process is explained with an example where we are going to
graph the function f(x) = 3x + 5.

• Step 1: Find two points on the line by taking some random

values.
We will assume that x = -1 and x = 0.
• Step 2: Substitute each of these values in the function to find the
corresponding y-values.
Here is the table of the linear function y = 3x + 5.
Here is the table of the linear function y = 3x + 5.

Therefore, two points on the line are (-1, 2) and (0, 5).
Step 3: Plot the points on the graph and join them by a line. Also,
extend the line on both sides.
Graphing a Linear Function Using Slope
and y-Intercept

To graph a linear function, f(x) = mx + b, we can

use its slope 'm' and the y-intercept 'b'. The process
is explained again by graphing the same linear
function f(x) = 3x + 5. Its slope is, m = 3 and its y-
intercept is (0, b) = (0, 5).
• Step 1: Plot the y-intercept (0, b).
Here, we plot the point (0, 5).

• Step 2: Write the slope as the fraction

rise/run and identify the "rise" and the "run".
Here, the slope = 3 = 3/1 = rise/run.
So rise = 3 and run = 1.
• Step 3: Rise the y-intercept vertically by "rise" and then
run horizontally by "run". This results in a new point.
(Note that if "rise" is positive, we go up and if "rise" is
negative, we go down. Also, if "run" is positive", we go
right and if "run" is negative, we go left.)
Here, we go up by 3 units from the y-intercept and
thereby go right by 1 unit.

• Step 4: Join the points from Step 1 and Step 2 by a line

and extend the line on both sides.
END