If you have 3 graphs plotted on the same page and can't tell just by looking at them which one is linear (they all have a slight curve and some linear features), how do you use the y-intercepts to determine this?
To determine which graph is linear among the three graphs, you can use the concept of y-intercepts. The y-intercept is the point at which a graph intersects or crosses the y-axis. For a linear graph, the y-intercept will have a specific value that remains constant throughout the entire graph.
To find the y-intercepts for each of the three graphs, follow these steps:
1. Locate the point where each graph crosses the y-axis. This is the point where the x-coordinate is zero.
2. Identify the corresponding y-coordinate for each graph at the point where it crosses the y-axis.
3. Note down the y-coordinate value for each graph.
Once you have the y-coordinate values for all three graphs, compare them. If all three y-coordinates are the same, it indicates that all three graphs have the same y-intercept, which implies that all three graphs are linear. However, if the y-coordinates differ, then at least one of the graphs is non-linear.
Keep in mind that this method might not always provide a definitive answer, especially if the graphs have slight curves and some linear features, as you mentioned. In such cases, additional analysis or mathematical techniques may be necessary to determine the linearity of the graphs precisely.