NAME _____________________________________________ DATE ____________________________ PERIOD _____________
2-2 Study Guide and Intervention
Linearity and Symmetry
Identify Linear Functions The graph of a linear equation is always a straight line. A linear function is a function
that can be modeled by a linear equation. A nonlinear function is a function that cannot be modeled by a linear equation.
A linear function can be written in the form f(x) = mx + b or y = mx + b, where m and b are real numbers.
In a linear function:
x and y are not multiplied by each other.
x and y do not appear in denominators or exponents or under radical symbols.
x and y each have an exponent of 1.
𝒙
Example 1: Is f(x) = 0.2 – 𝟓 a linear function? Explain.
1
Yes; it is a linear function because it can be written in the form f(x) = – x + 0.2.
5
Example 2: Is 2x + xy – 3y = 0 a linear function? Explain.
No; it is not a linear function because the variables x and y are multiplied together in the middle term.
Exercises
State whether each function is a linear function. Write yes or no. Explain.
18 𝑥
1. 6y – x = 7 2. 9x = 3. f(x) = 2 –
𝑦 11
𝑥 0.4
4. 2y – – 4 = 0 5. 1.6x – 2.4y = 4 6. 0.2x = 100 –
6 𝑦
4
7. f(x) = 4 – 𝑥 3 8. f(x) = 𝑥 9. 2yx – 3y + 2x = 0
Chapter 2 11 Glencoe Algebra 2
NAME _____________________________________________ DATE ____________________________ PERIOD _____________
2-2 Study Guide and Intervention (continued)
Linearity and Symmetry
Identify Symmetry The graph of a function has line symmetry if it can be reflected across a vertical line so that its
reflection maps exactly onto itself. The line of reflection is a line of symmetry. The graph of a function has point
symmetry if it can be rotated 180° about a point so that its rotation maps exactly onto itself. The point that acts as the
center of the rotation is the point of symmetry.
Example 1: State whether the graph of the function has Example 2: State whether the graph of the function has
line symmetry. If so, identify the line of symmetry. point symmetry. If so, identify the point of symmetry.
Find a vertical line that divides the graph into two halves When the graph is rotated 180° about the origin, the
that are mirror images each other. rotation maps onto the original itself.
The graph has line symmetry with x = –2 as the line of The graph has point symmetry with (2, 1) as the point of
symmetry. symmetry.
Exercises
State whether each graph has line symmetry or point symmetry. If so, identify any lines of symmetry or points of
symmetry.
1. 2.
Chapter 2 12 Glencoe Algebra 2
