Question

Which of the following tables represents a linear function?

x −2 −1 0 1 2
y 4 1 −2 −5 −8

x −2 −1 0 1 2
y 4 1 0 1 4

x 2 2 0 2 2
y −2 −1 0 1 2

x 0 1 2 3 4
y −2 1 0 1 −2

Answer 1

The first table is linear. The other are not linear.

Explanation:

See the attached graph. The tables should have a constant rate of change between the numbers. The first table have value of y that are related to -3x (the value of y shifts by -3 for each 1 increase in x. The other tables don't have predictable rate of change.