Question

how can I tell if an equation is linear?

Answer 1

the highest power will be one - no x^2, a^3 or such like
examples of linear equations are

y = x + 3
3x - 6y -2

Answer 2

so theres always a exponent is what your saying?

Answer 3

no. In a linear equation you will have 2 variables with no exponents.

Answer 4

ohhhhhhhh ok

Answer 5

a linear equation is an equation that can written in the form y=mx+b

so y=x^2 is not linear
3y=x-1 is linear since we can divide both sides by 3 and write is as y=mx+b
y=sqrt{x} is not linear

Answer 6

is this linear:
\[\sqrt{y}=x^2-1\]

Answer 7

-4-5=6p is this 1?

Answer 8

is this linear:
\[y=x^2-1\]?
neither of the equations i wrote were linear

but the one you wrote is

Answer 9

x+18=72 isnt right

Answer 10

so if there are exponents that makes it a NO on linear>?

Answer 11

polpak a linear equation can involved more than two variables

Answer 12

im confuseddddddddddd

Answer 13

but roseanne you will only have to worry about 2 variables since you are in algebra

Answer 14

It can have fewer.. I'm not sure it can have more.

Answer 15

Otherwise it ends up being a plane ;p

Answer 16

I suppose that is a linear equation though technically.

Answer 17

you only want your function to have degree 1

Answer 18

x+18=72 is linear. It's a vertical line.

Answer 19

polpak can we meet on here tomorrow so you can help me solve equations? I really want to get this perfect

Answer 20

Send me an email, and we can do some stuff with the whiteboard.

Answer 21

tomorrow?

Answer 22

what time do you think???

Answer 23

thank you @myininaya for your help btw.

Answer 24

ill email you. have agood night.

Answer 25

Any time in the morning is good. Or possibly afternoon. I know my morning is your afternoon, so that should workout either way.

Answer 26

oh np