Question

3. which kind of function best models the data in the table? use differences or ratios.

x y
_____
0 -1
1 -0.5
2 0
3 0.5
4 1

a)liner
b)quadratic
c)exponential
d)none of these

Answer 1

Answer: It is a linear equation.

If you look at the values on the left, the x-values, you can see that they are neatly lined up for us and they are increasing by 1.

Now, look at the y-values, they are increasing by adding 1/2.

When you have a constant increase of a value by addition or subtraction, it will create a linear pattern. You can also graph the equation to see the linear pattern.