Answer: The relationship between the variables x and y in the given data points is linear.
Step-by-step explanation: A linear relationship is one in which the change in the y-value (output) is always the same for a given change in the x-value (input), regardless of the starting point. In other words, the slope of the line is constant.
In this case, the slope of the line can be calculated by finding the difference in y-values for a given difference in x-values between two points. We can pick any two points, for example:
(X: -6, Y: 12) and (X: 6, Y: 20)
The slope can be calculated by:
m = (20 - 12) / (6 - (-6)) = 8/12 = 2/3
This means that for every 1 unit increase in x, y increases by 2/3 units.
This is a linear relationship.
In contrast, in an exponential relationship, the y-value increases (or decreases) at a constantly increasing (or decreasing) rate as the x-value increases.