Question

A school is ordering pencils for its students. The principal estimates that each student will use 30 pencils in one school year. The function y = 30x describes the total number of pencils, y, that the principal should order for x students. Which set of terms best describes the function y = 30x in this scenario?

discrete and linear

discrete and non-linear

continuous and linear

continuous and non-linear

Answer 1

@DemolisionWolf

Answer 2

ok so what does discrete mean

Answer 3

basically linear means the function y is a line. Discrete means that each value for x and y are whole numbers

Answer 4

So because you cannot have 1/2 of a student or half of a pencil given to a student then it is discrete.

Answer 5

Yea since you cannot have a fraction of a student, then you cannot have a fraction of a pencil either so it is discrete since each thing is countable. You cannot physically put your finger on 3/4 of a student or another fraction of a student

Answer 6

So it is discrete, but how do I graph that to see if its linear or non-linear?

Answer 7

it is linear because the amount of students can vary. For each increase in 1 student you need 30 pencils so it is linear

Answer 8

Okay, thanks. :)
Can you help me with another question?

Answer 9

The temperature in a freezer is falling steadily at a rate of 2°F per minute. The function y = 25 - 2x gives the temperature y after x minutes. Which set of terms best describes the function y = 25 - 2x in this scenario?

discrete and linear

discrete and non-linear

continuous and linear

continuous and non-linear