LINEAR OR NOT?

Question

Determine whether the following function is linear

 

y = 3/x

 

Explain why

Answer 1

Linear functions usually come in the form         y = mx + b

 

If the function is not in this form, then it is NOT linear.  Knowing this, you know the answer to the other 2 questions you have posted.

Answer 2

It is not linear because it depends on x^-1. To be linear, it can only depend on the x¹ power of x, by definition. The function can only be of the form

f(x) = ax¹ + bx⁰ = ax + b