Intermediate Algebra – Student Workbook – Second Edition 2013

Name: _____________________
Date: ________________
Mini-Lesson 2a
This lesson will combine the concepts of FUNCTIONS and LINEAR EQUATIONS. To write a
linear equation as a LINEAR FUNCTION, replace the variable y using FUNCTION
NOTATION. For example, in the following linear equation, we replace the variable y with f(x):
( )
Important Things to Remember about the LINEAR FUNCTION f(x) = mx + b
x represents the INPUT quantity.
f(x) represents the OUTPUT quantity (where f(x), pronounced, “f of x” really just means
“y”).
The graph of f(x) is a straight line with slope, m, and y-intercept (0, b).
If m>0, the graph INCREASES from left to right, if m