Answer:
The equation y = 3x^2 represents a nonlinear function.
Explanation:
In a linear function, the power of the variable x is always 1, meaning that the highest exponent is 1. However, in the given equation, the power of x is 2, indicating a quadratic term. This quadratic term makes the function nonlinear.
In a linear function, the graph is a straight line, and the rate of change (slope) remains constant. On the other hand, in a nonlinear function like y = 3x^2, the graph is a parabola, and the rate of change is not constant. As x changes, the y-values change at a non-constant rate, resulting in a curved graph.
Therefore, based on the presence of the quadratic term and the resulting graph, the equation y = 3x^2 represents a nonlinear function.