Question

Look at the data tables below. Which would most likely produce a nonlinear graph? 

table 1
table 2
table 3
table 4

Answer 1

Table 3

A linear graph is one where there is a steady change in the value on the y-axis with a steady change in the value on the x-axis. The first table will produce a positive sloped straight line that has an increase of 5 in the value of distance with each increment in the time value.
Table 2 will produce a graph where there is a decrease of 2 in the value of distance with an increase in the value of time.
Table 4 will produce a graph where the line is horizontal; the y-value does not change with time.

Table 3 has a graph which has to move up and down to accommodate the decreasing and increasing values, so it will be non-linear.