Graph Analysis: Determining Uniform vs Non-uniform Rate of Change in Linear Functions

Linear Functions with Rate of Change Analysis

Given the following graph, determine whether the rate of change is uniform or not

–3–3–3–2–2–2–1–1–1111222333444–1–1–1111222333000

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:05 Is the function changing at a constant rate?
00:09 Let's check if the differences in the X and Y values stay the same.
00:22 Now, let's calculate these differences step by step.
00:32 The differences are equal, so the rate of change is constant.
00:37 And that's how we solve this question!

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

Given the following graph, determine whether the rate of change is uniform or not

–3–3–3–2–2–2–1–1–1111222333444–1–1–1111222333000

2

Step-by-step solution

To determine if the rate of change in the given graph is uniform, we need to analyze the graph and check if it is a straight line.

Step 1: Check for linearity - The most direct way to determine if the graph has a uniform rate of change is by inspecting it for linearity, which means the graph forms a straight line.

Step 2: Analyze the path - The given SVG code and description imply a straight diagonal line, suggesting a constant slope.

For a linear function, the slope m=y2y1x2x1 m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} is constant throughout. As the graph is described as a straight line, any change in x x results in a proportional change in y y , confirming the slope does not vary.

Consequently, the graph displays a uniform rate of change. Therefore, the solution to this problem is uniform.

3

Final Answer

Uniform

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Linearity Test: A straight line graph indicates uniform rate of change
  • Slope Formula: Calculate m=y2y1x2x1 m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} between any two points
  • Verification: Check that slope remains constant between different point pairs ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Confusing curved lines with straight lines
    Don't assume any slanted line is straight without careful inspection = wrong rate determination! A slightly curved line has non-uniform rate of change even if it looks mostly straight. Always verify the graph forms a perfectly straight line by checking multiple segments.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Given the following graph, determine whether function is constant

–9–9–9–8–8–8–7–7–7–6–6–6–5–5–5–4–4–4–3–3–3–2–2–2–1–1–1111222333444555666777888999–4–4–4–3–3–3–2–2–2–1–1–1111222333444555666000

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

How can I tell if a line is perfectly straight on a graph?

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Look carefully at the entire line from start to finish. A straight line has no curves, bends, or changes in direction. You can also check by calculating the slope between different pairs of points - they should all be equal!

What does uniform rate of change actually mean?

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Uniform rate of change means the function increases or decreases by the same amount for every unit change in x. It's like climbing stairs - each step up is the same height!

Can I have uniform rate of change if the line goes down?

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Absolutely! A downward sloping straight line has uniform rate of change too. The rate is just negative, meaning y decreases by a constant amount as x increases.

What if the graph looks almost straight but has tiny curves?

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If there are any curves, no matter how small, the rate of change is non-uniform. Even slight curves mean the slope changes, so the rate isn't constant throughout the function.

How do I calculate the actual rate of change?

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Pick any two clear points on the line and use the slope formula: m=y2y1x2x1 m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} . This gives you the constant rate for the entire linear function!

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