Linear Relations and Functions

Why?
You analyzed relations and
functions. (Lesson 2-1)

Now
Identify linear
relations and
functions.
Write linear equations
in standard form.
New Vocabulary
linear relations
linear equation
linear function
standard form
y-intercept
x-intercept

Laura does yard work to earn money during the

summer. She either cuts grass x or does general
gardening y, and she schedules 5 jobs per day. The
equation x + y = 5 can be used to relate how many
of each task Laura can do in a day.

x+y=5

Linear Relations and Functions The points on the

graph above lie along a straight line. Relations that
have straight line graphs are called linear relations.

Cuts Grass

An equation such as x + y = 5 is called a linear equation. A linear equation has no

operations other than addition, subtraction, and multiplication of a variable by a
constant. The variables may not be multiplied together or appear in a denominator. A
linear equation does not contain variables with exponents other than 1. The graph of a
linear equation is always a line.
Linear equations

Nonlinear equations

4x - 5y = 16

2x + 6y2 = -25

x = 10

y=

2
y = -_
x-1
3

5
x + xy = -_

1
y=_
x
2

1
y=_
x

Math Online
glencoe.com
Extra Examples
Personal Tutor
Self-Check Quiz
Homework Help

Gardening

Then


x

+2
8

A linear function is a function with ordered pairs that satisfy a linear equation. Any
linear function can be written in the form f(x) = mx + b, where m and b are real numbers.

EXAMPLE 1

Identify Linear Functions

State whether each function is a linear function. Write yes or no. Explain.

a. f(x) = 8 - 3 x
4

3
Yes; it can be written as f(x) = -_
x + 8.
4
3
_
m=- ,b=8
4

b. f(x) = 2
x

No; the expression includes division by the variable.

c. g(x, y) = 3xy - 4
No; the two variables are multiplied together.

Check Your Progress

5
1A. f(x) = _

3
1
1B. g(x) = -_
x+_

x+6

Personal Tutor glencoe.com

You can evaluate linear functions by substituting values for x or f(x).

Lesson 2-2 Linear Relations and Functions

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EXAMPLE 2

Evaluate a Linear Function

PLANTS The growth rate of a sample of Bermuda grass is given by the function
f(x) = 5.9x + 3.25, where f(x) is the total height in inches x days after an initial
measurement.
a. How tall is the sample after 3 days?
f(x) = 5.9x + 3.25
Original function
f(3) = 5.9(3) + 3.25

Substitute 3 for x.

= 20.95

Simplify.

The height of the sample after 3 days is 20.95 inches.

b. The term 3.25 in the function represents the height of the grass when it was
initially measured. The sample is how many times as tall after 3 days?
The largest member of the
grass family, bamboo, is
capable of growing from
1 to 4 feet per day.
Source: Infoplease

Divide the height after 3 days by the initial height.

20.95
_
6.4
3.25

The height after 3 days is about 6.4 times as great as the initial height.

Check Your Progress

2A. If the Bermuda grass is 50.45 inches tall, how many days has it been since it was
last cut?
2B. Is it reasonable to think that this rate of growth can be maintained for long periods
of time? Explain.
Personal Tutor glencoe.com

Standard Form Any linear equation can be written in standard form, Ax + By = C,

where A, B, and C are integers with a greatest common factor of 1.

Key Concept

Standard Form of a Linear Equation

Words

The standard form of a linear equation is Ax + By = C,

where A, B, and C are integers with a greatest common factor
of 1, A 0, and A and B are not both zero.

Examples

3x + 5y = 12; A = 3, B = 5, and C = 12

EXAMPLE 3

For Your

Standard Form

Write - 3 x = 8y - 15 in standard form. Identify A, B, and C.

10

3
-_
x = 8y - 15
10

3
-_
x - 8y = -15
10

3x + 80y = 150

Original equation
Subtract 8y from each side.
Multiply each side by -10.

A = 3, B = 80, and C = 150

Check Your Progress

Write each equation in standard form. Identify A, B, and C.
3A. 2y = 4x + 5

3B. 3x - 6y - 9 = 0
Personal Tutor glencoe.com

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Since two points determine a line, one way to graph a linear function is to find the
points at which the graph intersects each axis and connect them with a line. The
y-coordinate of the point at which a graph crosses the y-axis is called the y-intercept.
Likewise, the x-coordinate of the point at which it crosses the x-axis is called the
x-intercept.

Use Intercepts to Graph a Line

EXAMPLE 4

Find the x-intercept and the y-intercept of the graph of 2x - 3y + 8 = 0. Then graph
the equation.
The x-intercept is the value of x when y = 0.

StudyTip
Vertical and
Horizontal
Lines When C
represents a constant,
an equation of the
form x = C represents
a vertical line with
only an x-intercept.
The equation y = C
represents a
horizontal line with
only a y-intercept.

2x - 3y + 8 = 0

Original equation

2x - 3(0) + 8 = 0

Substitute 0 for y.

2x = -8

Subtract 8 from each side.

x = -4

Divide each side by 2.

The x-intercept is -4.

y

Likewise, the y-intercept is the value of y when x = 0.

2x - 3y + 8 = 0

Original equation

2(0) - 3y + 8 = 0

Substitute 0 for x.

-3y = -8

(0, 83)

8
y=_

(-4, 0) 0

Subtract 8 from each side.

Divide each side by 3.

8
The y-intercept is _
.
3

Use these ordered pairs to graph the equation.

Check Your Progress

4. Find the x-intercept and the y-intercept of the graph of 2x + 5y - 10 = 0. Then
graph the equation.
Personal Tutor glencoe.com

Check Your Understanding

Example 1
p. 69

Example 2
p. 70

State whether each function is a linear function. Write yes or no. Explain.
1. f(x) = _
x + 12
5

7-x
2. g(x) = _
x

3. p(x) = 3x2 - 4

4. q(x) = -8x - 21

5 RECREATION You want to make sure that you have enough music for a car trip. If
each CD is an average of 45 minutes long, the linear function m(x) = 0.75x could
be used to find out how many CDs you need to bring.
a. If you have 4 CDs, how many hours of music is that?
b. If the trip you are taking is 6 hours, how many CDs should you bring?

Example 3
p. 70

Example 4
p. 71

Write each equation in standard form. Identify A, B, and C.

6. y = -4x - 7

7. y = 6x + 5

8. 3x = -2y - 1

9. -8x = 9y - 6

10. 12y = 4x + 8

11. 4x - 6y = 24

Find the x-intercept and the y-intercept of the graph of each equation. Then graph the
equation using the intercepts.
12. y = 5x + 12

13. y = 4x - 10

14. 2x + 3y = 12

15. 3x - 4y - 6 = 15

Lesson 2-2 Linear Relations and Functions

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= Step-by-Step Solutions begin on page R20.

Extra Practice begins on page 947.

Practice and Problem Solving

Example 1
p. 69

State whether each equation or function is a linear function. Write yes or no. Explain.
16. 3y - 4x = 20

17. y = x2 - 6

18. h(x) = 6

19. j(x) = 2x2 + 4x + 1

6
20. g(x) = 5 + _
x

21. f(x) = 

7-x

1
_1
23. _
x + y =1

22. 4x + y = 12
Example 2
p. 70

8
4x
24. f(x) = _
+_
5

25. ROLLER COASTERS The speed of the Steel Dragon 2000 roller coaster in Mie Prefecture,
Japan, can be modeled by y = 10.4x, where y is the distance traveled in meters in
x seconds.
a. How far does the coaster travel in 25 seconds?
b. The speed of Kingda Ka in Jackson, New Jersey, can be described by y = 33.9x.
Which coaster travels faster? Explain your reasoning.

Example 3
p. 70

Example 4
p. 71

Write each equation in standard form. Identify A, B, and C.

26. -7x - 5y = 35

27. 8x + 3y + 6 = 0

28. 10y - 3x + 6 = 11

29. -6x - 3y - 12 = 21

30. 3y = 9x - 12

31 2.4y = -14.4x

2
3
1
32. _y - _
x+_
=0
3
6
4

4
1
33. _y + _
x=4
5
8

34. -0.08x = 1.24y - 3.12

Find the x-intercept and the y-intercept of the graph of each equation. Then graph the
equation using the intercepts.
35. y = -8x - 4

36. 5y = 15x - 90

37. -4y + 6x = -42

38. -9x - 7y = -30

1
2
39. _x - _
y=4

3
2
40. _y - _
x = 12

41. FINANCIAL LITERACY Latonya earns a commission of $1.75 for each magazine
subscription she sells and $1.50 for each newspaper subscription she sells. Her
goal is to earn a total of $525 in commissions in the next two weeks.
a. Write an equation that is a model for the different numbers of magazine and
newspaper subscriptions that can be sold to meet the goal.
b. Graph the equation. Does this equation represent a function? Explain.
c. If Latonya sells 100 magazine subscriptions and 200 newspaper subscriptions, will
she meet her goal? Explain.
42. SNAKES Suppose the body length L in inches of a baby snake is given by
L(m) = 1.5 + 2m, where m is the age of the snake in months until it becomes
12 months old.
a. Find the length of an 8-month-old snake.
b. Find the snakes age if the length of the snake is 25.5 inches.
43. STATE FAIR The Ohio State Fair charges $8 for admission and $5 for parking. After
Joey pays for admission and parking, he plans to spend all of his remaining money
at the ring game, which costs $3 per game.
a. Write an equation representing the situation.
b. How much did Joey spend at the fair if he paid $6 for food and drinks and played
the ring game 4 times?

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Write each equation in standard form. Identify A, B, and C.

x+5
44. _ = -2y + 4

4x - 1
45. _ = 8y - 12

-2x - 8
46. _ = -12y + 18

Find the x-intercept and the y-intercept of the graph of each equation.
6x + 15
47 _ = 3y - 12

3y + 6
15x + 20
49. _ = _

-8x + 12
48. _ = 16y + 24
3

50. FUNDRAISING The Freshman Class Student Council wanted to raise money by giving
car washes. The students spent $10 on supplies and charged $2 per car wash.
a. Write an equation to model the situation.
b. Graph the equation.
Bake sales, car washes, and
coupon campaigns are
among the most popular
ideas to make money for
schools because it gives
students something to
offer, making it easier to
approach people.

c. How much money did they earn after 20 car washes?

d. How many car washes are needed for them to earn $100?
51.

MULTIPLE REPRESENTATIONS Consider the following linear functions.

f(x) = -2x + 4

g(x) = 6

1
x+5
h(x) = _
3

a. GRAPHICAL Graph the linear functions on separate graphs.

Source: School-Link

b. TABULAR Use the graphs to complete the table.

Function

One-to-One

Onto

f(x) = -2x + 4
g(x) = 6
1
h(x) = _
x+5
3

c. VERBAL Are all linear functions one-to-one and/or onto? Explain your reasoning.

H.O.T. Problems

Use Higher-Order Thinking Skills

52. CHALLENGE Write a function with an x-intercept of (a, 0) and a y-intercept of (0, b).
53. OPEN ENDED Write an equation of a line with an x-intercept of 3.
54. REASONING Determine whether an equation of the form x = a, where a is a constant,
is sometimes, always, or never a function. Explain your reasoning.
55. WHICH ONE DOESNT BELONG? Of the four equations shown, identify the one that does
not belong. Explain your reasoning.
y = 2x + 3

2x + y = 5

y=5

y = 2xy

56. WRITING IN MATH Consider the graph of the relationship between hours worked and
earnings.
a. Why do you think the graph of this relationship should only be in the first
quadrant?
b. Provide another example of a situation in which only the first quadrant is needed.
Explain your reasoning.
Lesson 2-2 Linear Relations and Functions

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Standardized Test Practice

57. Tom bought n DVDs for a total cost of
15n - 2 dollars. Which expression represents
the cost of each DVD?
A
B
C
D

59. NUMBER THEORY If a, b, c, and d are consecutive

odd integers and a < b < c < d, how much
greater is c + d than a + b?

n(15n - 2)
n + (15n - 2)
(15n - 2) n; n 0
(15n - 2) - n

F 2
G 4

H 6
J 8

60. ACT/SAT Which function is linear?

A f(x) = x2
B g(x) = 2.7
C f(x) = 9
- x2

58. SHORT RESPONSE What is the complete solution

of the equation?

D g(x) = 
x-1

|9 - 3x| = 18

Spiral Review
State the domain and range of each relation. Then determine whether each relation
is a function. If it is a function, determine if it is one-to-one, onto, both, or neither.
(Lesson 2-1)

61.

62.
8
-4
-1

6
3
9

(-2, 3)

63.

(1, 5)
(2, 3)
(4, 1)
x

x
-4
-3
-3
7

y
-2
-1
-1
9

64. SHOPPING Claudio is shopping for a new television. The average price of the
televisions he likes is $800, and the actual prices differ from the average by up to
$350. Write and solve an absolute value inequality to determine the price range of
the televisions. (Lesson 1-6)
Evaluate each expression if a = -6, b = 5, and c = 3.6. (Lesson 1-1)
6a - 3c
65. _

a + 7b
66. _

2ab

b-c
67. _

4bc

a+c

68. FOOD Brandi can order a small, medium, or large pizza with pepperoni, mushrooms,
or sausage. How many different one-topping pizzas can she order? (Lesson 0-4)

Skills Review
Evaluate each expression. (Lesson 1-1)
12 - 8
69. _

5-9
70. _

-2 - 8
71. _

-2 - (-6)
72. _

-7 - (-11)
73. _

-1 - 8
74. _

-12 - (-3)
75. _

4-3
76. _

4 - (-2)

-3 - 9

-3 - (-6)

3 - (-5)

7 - (-3)

-6 - (-5)

-1 - (-8)

2-5

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