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Mathematics vocabulary · Functions and Graphs

Linear

Meaning in mathematics, with examples

/ˈlɪniər/adjectiveCore term

In mathematics, linear means: Related to a straight line; a linear equation or function has no power of the variable higher than 1, so its graph is a straight line.

In Turkish: doğrusal, birinci dereceden, lineer

How it is used

Common phrases are linear equation, linear function, linear graph and linear relationship. At university, 'linear algebra' studies vectors and matrices. 'Non-linear' describes curves and anything else that is not linear.

Example sentences

  1. Solve the linear equation 4x + 9 = 1.

  2. The cost is linear in the number of hours, so the graph is a straight line.

Common collocations

  • linear equation
  • linear function
  • linear graph
  • linear algebra
  • non-linear
  • slopeA number that measures how steep a line is: the change in y divided by the change in x between any two points on the line.
  • interceptA point where a graph crosses one of the axes; the y-intercept of y = 2x + 3 is 3, because the line crosses the y-axis at (0, 3).
  • equationA mathematical statement with an equals sign, showing that two expressions have the same value, such as 2x + 3 = 11.
  • graphA drawing that shows the relationship between quantities, especially all the points (x, y) of a function shown on a pair of axes.
  • proportionalChanging together with another quantity so that their ratio stays fixed; if y is proportional to x, doubling x also doubles y.

More terms: Functions and Graphs

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