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2.1 Properties of Linear Functions

1. A linear function is defined by an equation of the form y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept. The graph of a linear function is a straight line. 2. For a linear function defined by y = mx + b, the slope (m) is the ratio of the change in y-values to the change in x-values between any two points on the line. The slope remains constant regardless of the points chosen. 3. Key properties of a linear function include a constant slope, and that its graph intercepts the x-axis at the x-intercept and y-axis at the y-intercept.

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252 views8 pages

2.1 Properties of Linear Functions

1. A linear function is defined by an equation of the form y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept. The graph of a linear function is a straight line. 2. For a linear function defined by y = mx + b, the slope (m) is the ratio of the change in y-values to the change in x-values between any two points on the line. The slope remains constant regardless of the points chosen. 3. Key properties of a linear function include a constant slope, and that its graph intercepts the x-axis at the x-intercept and y-axis at the y-intercept.

Uploaded by

Von A. Damirez
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Properties

of
Linear
Functions

Basic properties of a linear function:


1. The graph of a linear function is a
straight line, which is one of the main
reasons why it is called a linear
function.
2. For equal changes in the value of x,
the values of a linear function,
denoted by y, change at a constant
rate.
3. A linear function is defined by an
equation of the form y = f(x) = mx+b.

Do you recall the type of


equations in x and y whose graphs are
straight lines? In your earlier Algebra
subjects, you learned that equations
of the form Ax+By+C = 0 where A, B,
and C are constants, always produce
straight line graphs. Since every line
can be described by an equation of
this type, we call it general form of
the equation of a line. Do you think all
equations of this form represent linear
functions? If B=0, what kind of line do
you get? Does this represent a linear
function? Why or why not? If A=0,
what kind of line do you get? What

1. A linear function defined by y =


mx+b can be represented by a linear
equation of the form Ax+By+C=0,
where B is nonzero.
2. Every nonvertical line represents a
linear function.
3. If B=0, the graph is a vertical line,
which does NOT represent a function.
4. If A=0, the equation reduces to the
form By=C, and the values of y are
the same for all values of x. We call
the function represented by this
equation a constant function, and its
equation can be written in the form

Do the following exercise:


Consider the linear function defined by
y=2x-4.
a. Draw the graph of the function. At
what point does the graph intersect the
x-axis? the y-axis?
b. Choose two other points with integer
coordinates on the graph. Compute the
difference of the x-values and denote
this difference by x (read as delta x).
Do the same for the y-values and
denote
the
difference
by
y.
Compute . Choose two other points on
the graph and repeat the process. How
do the values of
compare for the two

We find that the value of the ratio remains the


same even if we change the points used to
compute it. This ratio of the change in the
values
of
the
y-coordinates
to
the
corresponding change in the values of the xcoordinate is called the slope. In the given
equation, this is the coefficient of the variable
x.
From this exercise, you can make the following
generalization:
1. The graph of a linear function defined by
y=mx+b intersects the y-axis at the point (0,
b), b is called the y-intercept of the graph.
2. If a nonvertical line intersects the x-axis at
the point (a, 0), then a is called the x-intercept
of the line.
3. The ratio is constant for a given line; it is
called the slope of the line. If the linear

Properties of slope:
1. The slope gives the direction of a line. If
the slope is positive, the line slants to the
right. If it is negative, the line slants to the
left.
2. The slope indicates the trend of a linear
function. If the slope is positive, the value
of x and y increase or decrease together,
the function is said to be increasing. If the
slope is negative, then the values of x and
y behave in opposite ways: the function is
said to be decreasing.
3. Lines that have the same slope have the
same direction; therefore, they are
parallel.

Exercises:
Find the slope, x-intercept, and yintercept of the graph.
1. 3x-4y = 12
2.
3. x+5y-15 = 0
4. 2x+3y = -15

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