Question

Which of the following has a graph that is a straight line? Equation 1: y = 5x2 + 41 Equation 2: y = 14x5 − 4 Equation 3: y = 12x + 17 Equation 4: y4 = 2x − 1

Answer 1

Equation 3: y = 12x + 17

Explanation:

It is the answer because all of the variables have an exponent of 1.

Answer 2

Equation 3: y = 12x + 17

Explanation:

Only a linear equation (degree 1) will have a graph that is a straight line.

• Equation 1: degree 2
• Equation 2: degree 5
• Equation 3: degree 1
• Equation 4: degree 4

The degree of the equation is the highest power of any of the variables. If different variables are in the same term, it is the sum of the powers of those variables.