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4.1 Linear functions  (Page 3/27)

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This figure shows three graphs labeled a, b, and c. Graph a shows an increasing function (f) along the x-axis and the y-axis which is labeled f of x. Graph b shows a decreasing function (f) along the x-axis and y-axis which is labeled f of x. Graph c shows a constant function (f) along the x-axis and y-axis which is labeled f of x. The constant function is horizontal. None of the graphs have any increments labeled on the x- or y-axis.

Increasing and decreasing functions

The slope determines if the function is an increasing linear function    , a decreasing linear function    , or a constant function.

  • f ( x ) = m x + b   is an increasing function if   m > 0.
  • f ( x ) = m x + b   is a decreasing function if   m < 0.
  • f ( x ) = m x + b   is a constant function if   m = 0.

Deciding whether a function is increasing, decreasing, or constant

Some recent studies suggest that a teenager sends an average of 60 texts per day http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501465_162-57400228-501465/teens-are-sending-60-texts-a-day-study-says/ . For each of the following scenarios, find the linear function that describes the relationship between the input value and the output value. Then, determine whether the graph of the function is increasing, decreasing, or constant.

  1. The total number of texts a teen sends is considered a function of time in days. The input is the number of days, and output is the total number of texts sent.
  2. A teen has a limit of 500 texts per month in his or her data plan. The input is the number of days, and output is the total number of texts remaining for the month.
  3. A teen has an unlimited number of texts in his or her data plan for a cost of $50 per month. The input is the number of days, and output is the total cost of texting each month.

Analyze each function.

  1. The function can be represented as   f ( x ) = 60 x   where   x   is the number of days. The slope, 60, is positive so the function is increasing. This makes sense because the total number of texts increases with each day.
  2. The function can be represented as   f ( x ) = 500 − 60 x   where   x is the number of days. In this case, the slope is negative so the function is decreasing. This makes sense because the number of texts remaining decreases each day and this function represents the number of texts remaining in the data plan after   x   days.
  3. The cost function can be represented as   f ( x ) = 50   because the number of days does not affect the total cost. The slope is 0 so the function is constant.
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Interpreting slope as a rate of change

In the examples we have seen so far, the slope was provided to us. However, we often need to calculate the slope given input and output values. Recall that given two values for the input,   x 1 and   x 2 , and two corresponding values for the output,   y 1   and   y 2   —which can be represented by a set of points,   ( x 1 ,  y 1 )   and   ( x 2 ,  y 2 ) —we can calculate the slope m .

m = change in output (rise) change in input (run) = Δ y Δ x = y 2 − y 1 x 2 − x 1

Note that in function notation we can obtain two corresponding values for the output   y 1   and   y 2   for the function   f ,   y 1 = f ( x 1 )   and   y 2 = f ( x 2 ) , so we could equivalently write

m = f ( x 2 ) – f ( x 1 ) x 2 – x 1

[link] indicates how the slope of the line between the points,   ( x 1 , y 1 )   and   ( x 2 , y 2 ) ,   is calculated. Recall that the slope measures steepness, or slant. The greater the absolute value of the slope, the steeper the slant is.

This graph shows how to calculate the slope of a line. The line is graphed on an x y coordinate plane. The x-axis is labeled from negative 1 to 6. The y-axis is labeled from negative 1 to 10. The line passes through several points, but two are marked specifcally. The first is labeled (x subscript 1, y subscript 1). It is located at the point (1, 5). The second point is labeled (x subscript 2, y subscript 2). It is located at the point (2, 8). There is a small arrow that runs horizontally from point (2, 8) to point (1, 8). This arrow is labeled x subscript 2 minus x subscript 1. There is a blue arrow that runs vertically from point (1, 5) to point (1, 8) and is labeled y subscript 2 minus y subscript 1. Off to the side is the equation m equals delta y divided by delta x which equals y subscript 2 minus y subscript 1 divided by x subscript 2 minus x subscript 1.
The slope of a function is calculated by the change in   y   divided by the change in   x .   It does not matter which coordinate is used as the   ( x 2 , y 2 )   and which is the   ( x 1 , y 1 ) ,   as long as each calculation is started with the elements from the same coordinate pair.
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Source:  OpenStax, College algebra. OpenStax CNX. Feb 06, 2015 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11759/1.3
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