There are 60 minutes in an hour. The total number of minutes is a function of the number of hours, as shown in the table. Does t
his situation represent a linear or non-linear function, and why? Hours vs. Minutes
Hours 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Minutes 60, 120, 180, 240, 300
A. It represents a linear function because there is a constant rate of change.
B. It represents a linear function because there is not a constant rate of change.
C. It represents a non-linear function because there is a constant rate of change.
D. It represents a non-linear function because there is not a constant rate of change.
The answer is a. <span>It represents a linear function because there is a constant rate of change. This can be done the opposite way, but lets use minutes as x and hours as y. Every time y increases by 1, x increases by 60. This means there is a constant rate of change of 1 (rise) over 60 (run). A linear equation must have a constant rate of change.</span>