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Study Guides > College Algebra CoRequisite Course

Characteristics of Linear Functions

Learning Outcomes

  • Represent a linear function with an equation, words, table, and a graph
  • Determine whether a linear function is increasing, decreasing, or constant
Just as with the growth of a bamboo plant, there are many situations that involve constant change over time. For example, consider the first commercial Maglev train in the world, the Shanghai Maglev Train. It carries passengers comfortably for a 30-kilometer trip from the airport to the subway station in only 8 minutes.[footnote]http://www.chinahighlights.com/shanghai/transportation/maglev-train.htm[/footnote]
The Shanghai Maglev train. A view of the Shanghai Maglev Train. (credit: Rolf Wilhelm Pfennig)
Suppose that a Maglev train were to travel a long distance, and the train maintains a constant speed of 83 meters per second for a period of time once it is 250 meters from the station. How can we analyze the train’s distance from the station as a function of time? In this section, we will investigate a type of function that is useful for this purpose and use it to investigate real-world situations such as the train’s distance from the station at a given point in time. The function describing the train’s motion is a linear function, which is defined as a function with a constant rate of change, that is, a polynomial of degree 1. There are several ways to represent a linear function including word form, function notation, tabular form and graphical form. We will describe the train’s motion as a function using each method.

the language of functions

Recall the translation from the language of equations to the language of functions. We say that "[latex]y[/latex] is a function of [latex]x[/latex]" and write ordered pairs of data in the form of (input, output). That is, the output [latex]y[/latex] is a function of the input [latex]x[/latex]. [latex-display]"y \text{ is a function of }x" \Rightarrow y=f(x)[/latex-display] [latex-display]\left(x, y\right) \Rightarrow \left(\text{input, output}\right) \Rightarrow \left(x, f(x)\right)[/latex-display] To say that [latex]"y \text{ is a function of }x"[/latex] is to say that the output of a function (the coordinate indicated on the vertical axis) is dependent on the input to the function (the coordinate indicated on the horizontal axis).

Representing a Linear Function in Word Form

Let’s begin by describing the linear function in words. For the train problem we just considered, the following word sentence may be used to describe the function relationship.
  • The train’s distance from the station is a function of the time during which the train moves at a constant speed plus its original distance from the station when it began moving at a constant speed.
The speed is the rate of change. Recall that a rate of change is a measure of how quickly the dependent variable changes with respect to the independent variable. The rate of change for this example is constant, which means that it is the same for each input value. As the time (input) increases by 1 second, the corresponding distance (output) increases by 83 meters. The train began moving at this constant speed at a distance of 250 meters from the station.

Representing a Linear Function in Function Notation

Another approach to representing linear functions is by using function notation. One example of function notation is an equation written in the form known as slope-intercept form of a line, where [latex]x[/latex] is the input value, [latex]m[/latex] is the rate of change, and [latex]b[/latex] is the initial value of the dependent variable. Slope-intercept form is given below:

[latex]\begin{array}{lll}\text{Equation form}\hfill & y=mx+b\hfill \\ \text{Function notation}\hfill & f\left(x\right)=mx+b\hfill \end{array}[/latex]

In the example of the train, we might use the notation [latex]D\left(t\right)[/latex] in which the total distance [latex]D[/latex] is a function of the time [latex]t[/latex]. The rate, [latex]m[/latex], is 83 meters per second. The initial value, [latex]b[/latex], of the dependent variable is the original distance from the station, 250 meters. We can write a generalized equation to represent the motion of the train.

[latex]D\left(t\right)=83t+250[/latex]

Tip for success

In the example above, the function notation, [latex]y=f(x)[/latex] is written, descriptively for the situation, as [latex]y = D(t)[/latex]. The function, [latex]D(t)=83t +250[/latex], takes an input [latex]t[/latex], multiplies it by [latex]83[/latex], then adds [latex]250[/latex]. The result is the output, [latex]D(t)[/latex]. We can choose input and output variables stylistically as desired. It is the form of the function that remains consistent from function to function.

Representing a Linear Function in Tabular Form

A third method of representing a linear function is through the use of a table. The relationship between the distance from the station and the time is represented in the table below. From the table, we can see that the distance changes by 83 meters for every 1 second increase in time.
Table with the first row, labeled t, containing the seconds from 0 to 3, and with the second row, labeled D(t), containing the meters 250 to 499. The first row goes up by 1 second, and the second row goes up by 83 meters. Tabular representation of the function D showing selected input and output values.

Q & A

Can the input in the previous example be any real number? No. The input represents time, so while nonnegative rational and irrational numbers are possible, negative real numbers are not possible for this example. The input consists of nonnegative real numbers.

Try It

[ohm_question]2923[/ohm_question]

Representing a Linear Function in Graphical Form

Another way to represent linear functions is visually by using a graph. We can use the function relationship from above, [latex]D\left(t\right)=83t+250[/latex], to draw a graph as seen below. Notice the graph is a line. When we plot a linear function, the graph is always a line.

tip for success

The y-intercept of the line in the graph below represents the initial value of the function. The term initial value is used in situations where it would be illogical to consider negative input. Even though it would be reasonable to graph the line [latex]y=83x + 250[/latex] where [latex]x \lt 0[/latex], in this situation we don't consider negative input values of time.
The rate of change, which is always constant for linear functions, determines the slant or slope of the line. The point at which the input value is zero is the y-intercept of the line. We can see from the graph that the y-intercept in the train example we just saw is [latex]\left(0,250\right)[/latex] and represents the distance of the train from the station when it began moving at a constant speed.
A graph of an increasing function with points at (-2, -4) and (0, 2). The graph of [latex]D\left(t\right)=83t+250[/latex]. Graphs of linear functions are lines because the rate of change is constant.
Notice the graph of the train example is restricted since the input value, time, must always be a nonnegative real number. However, this is not always the case for every linear function. Consider the graph of the line [latex]f\left(x\right)=2{x}_{}+1[/latex]. Ask yourself what input values can be plugged into this function, that is, what is the domain of the function? The domain is comprised of all real numbers because any number may be doubled and then have one added to the product.

A General Note: Linear FunctionS

A linear function is a function whose graph is a line. Linear functions can be written in slope-intercept form of a line:

[latex]f\left(x\right)=mx+b[/latex]

where [latex]b[/latex] is the initial or starting value of the function (when input, [latex]x=0[/latex]) and [latex]m[/latex] is the constant rate of change or slope of the function. The y-intercept is at [latex]\left(0,b\right)[/latex].

Try It

[ohm_question]113465[/ohm_question]

Example: Using a Linear Function to MODEL the Pressure on a Diver

The pressure, [latex]P[/latex], in pounds per square inch (PSI) on a diver depends on depth below the water surface, [latex]d[/latex], in feet. This relationship may be modeled by the equation [latex]P\left(d\right)=0.434d+14.696[/latex]. Restate this function in words.
Scuba diver. A diver exploring the depths of the ocean. (credit: Ilse Reijs and Jan-Noud Hutten)

Answer: To restate the function in words, we need to describe each part of the equation. The pressure as a function of depth equals four hundred thirty-four thousandths times depth plus fourteen and six hundred ninety-six thousandths.

Analysis of the Solution

The initial value, 14.696, is the pressure in PSI on the diver at a depth of 0 feet, which is the surface of the water. The rate of change, or slope, is 0.434 PSI per foot. This tells us that the pressure on the diver increases 0.434 PSI for each foot her depth increases.

Determine Whether a Linear Function is Increasing, Decreasing, or Constant

The linear functions we used in the two previous examples increased over time, but not every linear function does this. A linear function may be increasing, decreasing, or constant. For an increasing function, as with the train example, the output values increase as the input values increase. The graph of an increasing function has a positive slope. A line with a positive slope slants upward from left to right as in (a). For a decreasing function, the slope is negative. The output values decrease as the input values increase. A line with a negative slope slants downward from left to right as in (b). If the function is constant, the output values are the same for all input values, so the slope is zero. A line with a slope of zero is horizontal as in (c). Three graphs depicting an increasing function, a decreasing function, and a constant function.

A General Note: Increasing and Decreasing Functions

The slope determines if a linear function function is an increasing, decreasing or constant.
  • [latex]f\left(x\right)=mx+b\text{ is an increasing function if }m>0[/latex]
  • [latex]f\left(x\right)=mx+b\text{ is an decreasing function if }m<0[/latex]
  • [latex]f\left(x\right)=mx+b\text{ is a constant function if }m=0[/latex]

Example: Deciding whether a Function Is Increasing, Decreasing, or Constant

Some recent studies suggest that a teenager sends an average of 60 text messages per day.[footnote]http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501465_162-57400228-501465/teens-are-sending-60-texts-a-day-study-says/[/footnote] For each of the following scenarios, find the linear function that describes the relationship between the input value and the output value. Then determine whether the graph of the function is increasing, decreasing, or constant.
  1. The total number of texts a teenager sends is considered a function of time in days. The input is the number of days and output is the total number of texts sent.
  2. A teenager has a limit of 500 texts per month in his or her data plan. The input is the number of days and output is the total number of texts remaining for the month.
  3. A teenager has an unlimited number of texts in his or her data plan for a cost of $50 per month. The input is the number of days and output is the total cost of texting each month.

Answer: Analyze each function.

  1. The function can be represented as [latex]f\left(x\right)=60x[/latex] where [latex]x[/latex] is the number of days. The slope, 60, is positive so the function is increasing. This makes sense because the total number of texts increases with each day.
  2. The function can be represented as [latex]f\left(x\right)=500 - 60x[/latex] where [latex]x[/latex] is the number of days. In this case, the slope is negative so the function is decreasing. This makes sense because the number of texts remaining decreases each day and this function represents the number of texts remaining in the data plan after [latex]x[/latex] days.
  3. The cost function can be represented as [latex]f\left(x\right)=50[/latex] because the number of days does not affect the total cost. The slope is 0 so the function is constant.

Try It

Use an online graphing calculator to graph the function: [latex]f(x)=-\frac{2}{3}x-\frac{4}{3}[/latex]. If you are using Desmos, you can add sliders to represent various aspects of your equation. Below is a short tutorial on how to add sliders to your graphs in Desmos. Other online graphing calculators may or may not have this feature. https://youtu.be/9MChp2P0vMA Try adding a slider to the function [latex]f(x) =-\frac{2}{3}x-\frac{4}{3}[/latex] that will let you change the slope. Limit the range of values for the slope such that your function is increasing, then do the same for a function that is decreasing. Finally, write and graph a function whose slope is constant.

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