Western Governors University (WGU) MATH1200 C957 Applied Algebra Practice Exam

A key feature of a linear function is that when it is graphed, it produces a straight line. This characteristic arises because linear functions can be defined by an equation of the form \(y = mx + b\), where \(m\) represents the slope (the rate of change) and \(b\) is the y-intercept (the value of \(y\) when \(x=0\)). The constant slope indicates that for every unit increase in \(x\), \(y\) increases by a consistent amount, which is why the graph is linear and straight.

This attribute of having a straight line is essential because it allows linear functions to model relationships where the change is uniform over the domain, making them applicable in many real-world contexts like calculating distances, costs, and more, where relationships maintain a constant rate of change.