Question

Decide whether the data in the table represent a linear function or an
exponential function.

O A. The data represent a linear function because there is a common difference of -8.

OB. The data represent an exponential function because there is a common ratio of 2.

C. The data represent a linear function because there is a common
difference of 8.

D. The data represent an exponential function because there is a common ratio of 1/2

Answer 1

f we plot the provided points, we'd end up with something like the picture below, which is a line, mind you a declining line from left to right, so we can pretty see it has a negative slope, to get the slope we can just pick any two given points and check what it might be as well as get its equation, hmmm let's use the points of (4,-8) and (2,8)$(\stackrel{x_1}{4}~,~\stackrel{y_1}{-8})\qquad (\stackrel{x_2}{2}~,~\stackrel{y_2}{8}) \\\\\\ \stackrel{slope}{m}\implies \cfrac{\stackrel{rise} {\stackrel{y_2}{8}-\stackrel{y1}{(-8)}}}{\underset{run} {\underset{x_2}{2}-\underset{x_1}{4}}}\implies \cfrac{8+8}{-2}\implies \cfrac{16}{-2}\implies -8 \\\\\\ \begin{array}{|c|ll} \cline{1-1} \textit{point-slope form}\\ \cline{1-1} \\ y-y_1=m(x-x_1) \\\\ \cline{1-1} \end{array}\implies y-\stackrel{y_1}{(-8)}=\stackrel{m}{-8}(x-\stackrel{x_1}{4})\implies y =-8x+24$

so is linear because it has a slope (common difference) of -8,