A nonlinear relationship is a connection between two variables that does not follow a straight line when graphed. In simpler terms, as one variable changes, the other does not change at a constant rate. This means that the relationship could curve, bend, or even form more complex patterns.
For example:
- If you look at how the temperature affects the amount of ice cream sold, you might find that sales increase quickly as it gets warmer, but when it gets too hot, sales might level off or even drop because people want something different. This change in the pattern shows a nonlinear relationship.
In contrast, a linear relationship would show that as one variable increases, the other does so at a steady, predictable rate, forming a straight line on a graph.
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