Question

Is this a linear function , why or why not ? explain y=x^2-1

Answer 1

If you graph out y = x^2 - 1, you'll see that it is a curved parabola. It is not a straight line. So visually this shows the equation is not linear. It's considered nonlinear.

Algebraically, the given equation does not fit the form y = mx+b which is slope intercept form. So this is more confirmation that we do not have a linear function.