Chapter 3

LINEAR FUNCTIONS

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 Chapter Outline
3.1 Rectangular Coordinates
3.2 Functions
3.3 Constant Function
3.4 Linear Functions
3.5 Slope of a Line
3.6 Equation of Lines
3.7 Applications of Linear Functions

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3.1 Rectangular Coordinates
• The rectangular coordinate system provides a geometric way to graph
equations in two variables.
• An x-intercept is a point where the graph intersects the x-axis, the y-
intercept is is a point where the graph intersects the y-axis.

The Cartesian
coordinate system, also
called the rectangular
coordinate system, is
based on a two-
dimensional plane
consisting of the x-axis
and the y-axis.
Perpendicular to each
other, the axes divide the
plane into four sections.

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Example:
Graph the following points in the xy-plane:
A 3,1, B 2, 4 , C 3, 4 , D 2, 3, E 3, 0 
Solution
A 3,1 3 units right, 1 unit up
B 2, 4  2 units left, 4 units up
C 3, 4  3 units left, 4 units down
D 2, 3 2 units right, 3 units down
E 3, 0  3 units left, 0 units up or down
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A 3,1, B 2, 4 , C 3, 4 , D 2, 3, E 3, 0 

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3.2 Functions

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Graphically, a function can be shown as follows:
The figure shows that

OUTPU
INPUT

T
ONE TO ONE
FUNCTION

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Another case:

NOT ONE TO
ONE

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Note that;

Domain Rang
e

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Example: Consider the following figure.

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Example: Consider the following figure.

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 2

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Some Types Of Functions

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 3.2 Constant function

Definition: A function of the form y = f(x) = c,

where c = constant, is a constant function.

Note that, the domain of a constant function is

Domain = 𝑅 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟𝑠 , and the range is;
Range = 𝑐 .

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Example: Constant Function
Let y = f(x) = 2, then
f(10) = 2, f(–387) = 2, f(x + 3) = 2,
f(1/2) = 2, f(–3/5) = 2, f(1000) = 2
So,
Domain = R (real numbers);
Range = 2

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3.4 Linear Functions
Definition: A function of the form
𝒚 = 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒂𝟎 + 𝒂𝟏 𝒙, 𝒂𝟎 , 𝒂𝟏 ∈ 𝑹
is called linear function, where 𝑎1 is the
slope and 𝑎0 is 𝑦 intercept.
The domain of a linear function is R, and the
range is, also R.
Example:
𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑥 = 3 + 2𝑥
and 𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑥 = 5𝑥 − 3 are linear functions.
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Example:
Find the slope and y – intercept of the line with equation
y = 5(3 – 2x).
Solution:
Rewrite the equation as
y  53  2 x 
y  15  10 x
y  10 x  15

The slope is 𝑎1 = –10 and the y – intercept is 𝑎0 = 15.

Note that, domain = R and range = R

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Example:
Find the x and y – intercepts of the linear
function, y = 2x + 3, and sketch its graph
Solution:
3
When y = 0, we have 0 = 2x + 3 so that x (-3/2,0)
2
When x = 0, y = 2(0) + 3 = 3 (0,3)

Note that, domain = R

and range = R

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Example: Graph

3
Note that, domain = R and range = R -2

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Now, let’s try to find the slope of the above line given
above.
The given linear function is
2𝑥 − 3𝑦 = 6 (General form)
To find the slope, we should write the equation in the
form of 𝒚 = 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒂𝟎 + 𝒂𝟏 𝒙, where 𝑎1 is the slope.
So, 2𝑥 − 3𝑦 = 6
−3𝑦 = 6 − 2𝑥
2
𝑦 = −2 + 𝑥
3
2
Therefore, the slope is 𝑎1 = .
3
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Example: Converting Forms of Equations of Lines
a. Find a general linear form of the line whose slope –
intercept form is
2
y  x4
3
Solution:
We should write the given equation of the form ax + by = c

2
x y40
3
2 x  3 y  12

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b. Find the slope – intercept form of the line having a
general linear form 3x  4 y  2  0
Solution:
We should write the given equation in the form of
𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏.
3x  4 y  2  0
4 y  3x  2
3 1
y x
4 2

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3.4 Slope of a Line
• The slope; m, of the line which passes through the two points;
(x1, y1) and (x2, y2) is obtained by y2  y1
m
x 2  x1
Example: Determine the slope
of the line given in the figure.
𝑥1 , 𝑦1 = 1,3 and
𝑥2 , 𝑦2 = 3,7 . Then, the slope
7−3
𝑚=
3 −1

=2

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As it is seen in the above example, the graph of
a linear function is a line.
• If the slope; 𝒂𝟏 > 𝟎, the line is an increasing line.
• If the slope; 𝒂𝟏 < 𝟎, the line is a decreasing line.
• If the slope; 𝒂𝟏 = 𝟎, the line is horizontal to 𝑥 −
𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠.
• If the slope; 𝒂𝟏 , is undefined, the line is
perpendicular to 𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠.

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Vertical and Horizontal Lines
Either the “rise” or “run” could be zero
y
m is undefined
m (slope) is positive
m=0

m (slope) is negative
x

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Example: Intercepts and Graph
Determine the intercepts of the graph of x = 3, and sketch
the graph.
Solution:
There is no y – intercept, because x cannot be 0.

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3.6 Equation of a Line

A) Slope – Intercept Form

The slope – intercept form of the equation of the line with
slope m and y – intercept b is
y  mx  b.
Example:

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B) Point – Slope Form

• The point – slope form of an equation of

the line passing through (x1, y1) with
slope m is
y  y1  m  x  x1 

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Example:
Find the point – slope form of the equation of the line
passing through the point (1, –2) and with slope m = 3.

Solution:
We have x1 = 1, y1 = –2, and m = 3.
y  y1  m x  x1 
y  2   3x  1
y  2  3x  3
y  3x  5

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Example:
Find the equation of a line that passes through the
point (1, –3 ) with slope of 2.

𝑦 = 2𝑥 − 5
Type equation here.

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C) Two Points Form
The equation of the line passing through 𝑥1 , 𝑦1
and 𝑥2 , 𝑦2 is obtained by, first finding the slope
which is
𝑦2 −𝑦1
𝑚=
𝑥2 −𝑥1
and then using the point – slope form equation of
the line is obtained by
y  y1  m  x  x1 
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Example
Find an equation of the line passing through (–3, 8)
and (4, –6).
Solution:
6  8 14
The line has the slope; m     2
4   3 7
Using a point – slope form with (–3, 8) gives

y  8  2  x   3 
y  8  2 x  6
y  2 x  2

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Example:
Find the equation of the line passes through (1, –1 )
and (–3 , –9 ).

Solution:
y2  y1 9  1 8
The slope is m    2
x2  x1 3  1 4

The equation of this line is y  y1  m  x  x1 

y  1  2  x  1) 
y  2x  2  1
y  2 x  3 (slope - intercept form)

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Example:
Find the equation of the line through the points
(– 5 ,7) and (4,16).
Solution:
16  7 9
m  1
4  (5) 9

Now use the point – slope form with m = 1 and

(x1, x2) = (4,16).

y  16  1( x  4)
y  x  4  16
y  x  12

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Example: If y = f(x) is a linear function such that f(–2) = 6
and f(1) = –3, find f(x). (It means, we have given 2 points;
(– 2, 6) and (1, – 3))
Solution:
The slope is y 2  y1  3  6
m   3
x 2  x1 1    2 
Using a point – slope form:

y  y1  m x  x1 
y  6  3x   2
y  3x
f  x   3x
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