I'm a little confused about the different kinds of equations - what is the difference between exponential and quadratic, and exponential, quadratic, and linear?
surely your algebra text explains this.
and google will provide lots of references
much more complete than we can provide in a short post here.
I have looked on Google, I find them more scientific, I was looking for more "lay person" explanations and examples please.
Try these sites. I often find good easy-to-understand explanations by searching for the subject - and adding the word "kids".
https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=AbEEWtoXw6aPBOzZnKgI&q=different+kinds+of+equations+kids&oq=different+kinds+of+equations+kids&gs_l=psy-ab.3...3235.6475.0.6753.6.6.0.0.0.0.121.615.3j3.6.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..0.4.411...0j0i22i30k1j0i22i10i30k1j33i160k1j33i22i29i30k1.0.OvUU4eOBuj0
Great question! Let's break it down.
1. Linear Equations:
A linear equation is the simplest form of an equation, where the highest power of the variable is 1. It has the general form of y = mx + b, where "m" is the slope of the line and "b" is the y-intercept (where the line crosses the y-axis). Linear equations represent straight lines on a graph.
2. Quadratic Equations:
A quadratic equation is an equation where the highest power of the variable is 2. It has the general form of y = ax^2 + bx + c, where "a," "b," and "c" are constants. Quadratic equations typically represent curved lines on a graph, called parabolas. The shape of the parabola depends on the values of "a," "b," and "c."
3. Exponential Equations:
An exponential equation is an equation where the variable appears as an exponent. It has the general form of y = ab^x, where "a" and "b" are constants. Exponential equations often represent exponential growth or decay. When "b" is greater than 1, it represents exponential growth, and when 0 < "b" < 1, it represents exponential decay.
In summary, here are the key differences:
- Linear equations have the highest power of the variable as 1 and represent straight lines on a graph.
- Quadratic equations have the highest power of the variable as 2 and represent parabolas on a graph.
- Exponential equations have the variable as an exponent and represent exponential growth or decay on a graph.
To determine which type of equation you're working with, look for the highest power of the variable and the patterns or relationships it represents.