Question

Which table represents a nonlinear function?

A two column table with five rows. The first column, x, has the entries, 0, 1, 2, 3. The second column, y, has the entries, negative 19, negative 11, negative 3, 5.

A two column table with five rows. The first column, x, has the entries, 0, 1, 2, 3. The second column, y, has the entries, negative 1.5, 1.5, 3, 4.5.

A two column table with five rows. The first column, x, has the entries, 0, 1, 2, 3. The second column, y, has the entries 15, 12, 9, 6.

Answer 1

The second table (y = -1.5, 1.5, 3, 4.5) is nonlinear.

Reason: For x = 0,1,2,3 the y-differences are 3, 1.5, 1.5 (not constant), so the rate of change is not constant. The first and third tables have constant differences (8 and -3), so they are linear.