RULES FOR FUNCTIONS

LINEAR OR NON-LINEAR
Focus 6 - Learning Goal #1: Students will understand and explain the
difference between functions and non-functions using graphs, equations,
and tables.
4 3 2 1 0
In addition to level The student will The student will be With help from the Even with help,
3.0 and beyond understand and able to model and teacher, the student students have no
what was taught in explain the difference evaluate functions has partial success success with the
class, the student between functions and non-functions. with level 2 and 3 functions.
may: and non-functions Use graphs, elements.
Make using graphs, equations, and
connection equations, and tables. tables to
with other Compare
determine
concepts in properties of a
functions and
math. function to a non-
non-functions.
Make function.
connection
with other
content areas.
CHARACTERISTICS OF LINEAR FUNCTIONS

A linear function is a relation between two variables which creates a

straight line when graphed.
The equation or rule will not have exponents greater than 1.
Examples of linear functions:
y = 2x + 1
Tell the person next
y = -1/2x 5 to you the
y = -4x 2.8 characteristics of a
y=x+9 linear function.
CHARACTERISTICS OF NON-LINEAR FUNCTIONS

A non-linear function is a relation between two variables that does not create a
straight line when graphed.
The equation or rule could have one of the following traits:
An exponent greater than one.
A variable in the denominator.
Examples of non-linear functions:
y = 3x2 + 2x + 5 Tell the person next
y = -5x3 to you the
y = 8/x characteristics of a
y = -2.5x4 3x2 + 9x 1.4 non-linear function.
LINEAR OR NON-LINEAR

1. y = 7x + 12 1. Linear
2. y = 2x2 5x + 2. Non-linear
3. y = x3 3. Non-linear
4. y = 5/2 x 1 4. Linear
5. y = 18/
x +4 5. Non-linear
WRITE A FUNCTION TO REPRESENT THE DATA IN THE
TABLE.

Look at the x values. You need to know if they are

going up by one or if they are skipping.
(Its easier to determine the rule if they are going up by one.)

Next look at the y values. How are they changing?

Are they going up by the same amount?
Are they going up by different amounts?

The y values in this table are going up one every

time. That means the you will multiply each x
by one.
WRITE A FUNCTION TO REPRESENT THE DATA IN THE
TABLE.

Go back to the first x. After you multiply it by

one, what do you need to do to make it
equal the y value?
You need to add 4. This means the rule could
be y = (1)x + 4
Once you decide on a rule, make sure it works
for the other x values.
The function is y = x + 4.
WRITE A FUNCTION TO REPRESENT THE DATA IN THE
TABLE.
Look at the x values. You need to know if they are going
up by one or if they are skipping.
X Y
Next look at the y values. How are they changing?
-2 -7
-1 -2 The y values in this table are going up five every time.
That means the you will multiply each x by five.
0 3
Go back to the first x. After you multiply it by five, what
1 8 do you need to do to make it equal the y value?
You need to add 3. This means the rule could be
y = (5)x + 3
Once you decide on a rule, make sure it works for the
other x values.
The function is y = 5x + 3.
WRITE A FUNCTION TO REPRESENT THE DATA IN THE
TABLE.

Look at the x values. You need to know if they are going up by one or if they
are skipping. **They are going up by 2.**
X Y
Next look at the y values. How are they changing?
1 15 The y values in this table are going down 10 for every two x values.
3 5 That means the you will multiply each x by negative five.
5 -5 Go back to the first x. After you multiply it by -5, what do you need to do to
7 -15 make it equal the y value?
9 -25 You need to add 20. This means the rule could be
y = (-5)x + 20
Once you decide on a rule, make sure it works for the other x values.
The function is y = -5x + 20.
WRITE A FUNCTION TO REPRESENT THE DATA IN THE
TABLE.
Look at the x values. You need to know if they are going up by one or if they
are skipping.
X Y Next look at the y values. How are they changing?
0 1 The y values in this table are changing by different amounts. This
1 2 means that this is not linear. It will be exponential.

2 5 Choose one of the x values. Think about how you could square or cube
the x to get close to the y value.
3 10
2 squared is close to 5, 3 squared is close to 10, 4 squared is close to 17.
4 17 It looks like if we square the x value and add 1 we would have the w value.
5 26 This means the rule could be y = x2 + 1
Once you decide on a rule, make sure it works for the other x values.
The function is y = x2 + 1.