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I think what you are asking is: "If I have a curve on a plane, how do I know if it is a function or not?". For regular Cartesian coordinates, where x is the independent variable and y is the dependent variable, you can use something called the "vertical line test". If you hold up a line parallel to the y-axis it will intersect the curve. Now if you can move it side to side and it never intersects the curve *more than once* then you have a function (of x).

The reason is this: a function is a rule that associates every point in the domain to a single point in the range (also called the codomain). This means that if you are given any point in the domain and evaluate the function at that point you will get one value in the range (this does not need to be a unique value. You can have two different points in the domain taking on the same value in the range; think absolute value or sine curves). So, if we are using the vertical line test and it intersects the curve twice for a single value of x, we know that the curve cannot be a function, since there are two values in the range associated with one value in the domain. On the other hand, if the curve passes the vertical line test i.e. it only intersects the curve once at every point in the domain, then you have a function of x.

You can use an analogous "horizontal line test" to see if something is a function of y.

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How can you determine the trend and the graph on alinear fuction?

To determine the trend of linear function graph or equation you would simply look at the slope of the line. This is represented by the m in the equation, f(x) = mx + b.


What is a way to see if a line on a graph is function?

To determine if a line on a graph represents a function, you can use the vertical line test. If a vertical line intersects the graph at more than one point, then the graph does not represent a function, as it would indicate that a single input (x-value) corresponds to multiple outputs (y-values). Conversely, if every vertical line crosses the graph at most once, the graph represents a function.


What does vlt mean in math?

In mathematics, "vlt" typically stands for "vertical line test." This is a method used to determine if a curve or graph represents a function. According to the vertical line test, if a vertical line intersects the graph at more than one point, then the graph does not represent a function, as it would imply that a single input has multiple outputs.


What is y equals 3x?

I don't understand your question but y=3x is the function of a graph, to graph the function you would plug points into the function such as x=0, x=1, x=-1 and you would find the y values at each point so that you can graph it. In this case the graph is a parabola which has a u shape.


How can you tell by looking at the graph of a function that it is nonlinear?

A linear function would be represented by a straight line graph, so if it's not a straight line, it's nonlinear

Related Questions

How can you determine the trend and the graph on alinear fuction?

To determine the trend of linear function graph or equation you would simply look at the slope of the line. This is represented by the m in the equation, f(x) = mx + b.


What is a way to see if a line on a graph is function?

To determine if a line on a graph represents a function, you can use the vertical line test. If a vertical line intersects the graph at more than one point, then the graph does not represent a function, as it would indicate that a single input (x-value) corresponds to multiple outputs (y-values). Conversely, if every vertical line crosses the graph at most once, the graph represents a function.


What graph would you use to determine something?

Any graph can be used to determine something!


What does vlt mean in math?

In mathematics, "vlt" typically stands for "vertical line test." This is a method used to determine if a curve or graph represents a function. According to the vertical line test, if a vertical line intersects the graph at more than one point, then the graph does not represent a function, as it would imply that a single input has multiple outputs.


What is y equals 3x?

I don't understand your question but y=3x is the function of a graph, to graph the function you would plug points into the function such as x=0, x=1, x=-1 and you would find the y values at each point so that you can graph it. In this case the graph is a parabola which has a u shape.


How can you tell by looking at the graph of a function that it is nonlinear?

A linear function would be represented by a straight line graph, so if it's not a straight line, it's nonlinear


What graph would you use to determine a persons height?

You would not use a graph to determine one person's height at a single point in time. You could use a line graph to track the height of a person over time. You could use a histogram to determine the heights of lots of people at one time.


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The graph would be translated upwards by 2 units.


How do you figure out the starting point of a distance vs time graph when given the velocity vs time graph and a function?

To find the starting point of a distance vs time graph from a velocity vs time graph and a function, you would integrate the velocity function to find the displacement function. The starting point of the distance vs time graph corresponds to the initial displacement obtained from the displaced function.


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To determine the range of a function from its graph, you need to identify the set of output values (y-values) that the function can take. If the graph shows all points up to a maximum value of 1, then the range would be all real numbers less than or equal to 1. If it extends to a maximum of 3, then the range would be all real numbers less than or equal to 3. Without the specific graph, it's impossible to definitively state the range.


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Line graph. I would suggest a scatter graph. That would allow you to determine the line of best fit.