f(x) represents a linear function since it had the same first differences while the "x" values are evenly space out (which we know could happen only if the function is linear). Now that we determined that the function is linear we have to write the function as an expression.

We know that any linear function has a form of f(x) = mx + b, where "m" is the slope and "b" is the y intercept (y value when x is equal to 0).

As I already mentioned the b will be equal tp the "y" intersect which is equal to the "y" value when x is equal to zero. Luckily in our table they did tell us what will be the "y" value when x is equal to zero, and it is 2. So now we know b = 2.

Then we have have to find the slope which can be found by using the following formula.....

$m = \frac{y_{2} - y_{1} }{x_{2} - x_{1} }$

Now we have to choose two different points from table and let the one that has bigger x value be represented as $(x_{2} , y_{2} )$ and the other one will be represented as $(x_{1}, y_{1} )$ . In our case I choose the points (2,2) and (1,2). Now if we represent them as what I mentioned earlier we can substitute their values into the equation that we ca use to find the slope. You should obtain the following.....

$m = \frac{y_{2} - y_{1} }{x_{2} - x_{1} } = \frac{2 -2}{2-1} = \frac{0}{1} = 0$

Now that we know both the "m" and "b" values we can substitute them into the equation, and we will get he following....

f(x) = mx + b

f(x) = 0x + 2

f(x) = 2

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3 years ago