3.3 Modeling Data With Linear Functions
A table of data is linear if there is a constant average rate of change between all pairs of points.
Testing for Linearity
• to test if a table of data is linear, calculate the average rate of change between each
consecutive pair of points
• if the rate of change is constant, the data represents a linear function
• if not, then it is not a linear function
x 0 2 5 9
y 0 64 160 288
x 3 4 6 9
y 4 6 10 18
Example 1
Determine whether or not each of the following tables represents a linear function.
(a)
x 2 4 6 8
y 12 17 21 25
