Question

Which table represents a nonlinear function?

Answer 1

Answer:

The table that represents the nonlinear function is the one where the x-values are -7, -5 and 0 and the y-values are -3, 0 and 3.

Step-by-step explanation:

In order for a table to represent a linear function, there needs to be a consistent change in y-values divided by the change in x-values.  For example, for any two points on the table when we subtract two y-values and divide by the number we get when we subtract two x-values, this change should be represented throughout the table.  So, in the case of the other three tables, when we choose two points from the table, such as (-5, 7) and (-2,6) and put them into an equation (y2-y1/x2-x1) or (6-7)/(-2-(-5)) we would get a change of -1/3.  However, when we apply this concept to the table where x-values are -7,-5, and 0, we see that the change is not consistent between points, so the function must be nonlinear.