Final answer:
The situation described is linear because the fare charged by the taxi company has a constant rate of change.
Step-by-step explanation:
The situation described is linear. A linear equation represents a straight line on a graph and has a constant rate of change. In this case, the fare charged by the taxi company is $3.00 plus $0.50 per mile, which means that for each additional mile traveled, the fare increases by $0.50. This shows a constant rate of change, indicating a linear relationship.