Unit 4 - Linear Relations

Section 4.1 - Writing Equations to Describe Patterns

● A variable is a letter representing a quantity that can vary or change.
● Math operations include adding, subtracting, multiplying, & dividing.
● An expression is a mathematical statement made up of numbers and/or variables connected by operations.
○ It does NOT contain an equal sign! Ex: 5𝑥
● An equation is a mathematical statement where two expressions are equal.
○ It does have an equal sign! Ex: 5𝑥 = 30
● In this unit we will be describing relations using words, equations, graphs, tables and pictures.

❖ Example 1: At a wedding reception tables and chairs can be set up in the following pattern.

a) Sketch the next two table arrangements.

b) Create a table to show the number of tables and chairs.

Tables

Chairs
c) Create an equation to model the number of tables & chairs.

d) How many people can sit at a row of 10 tables?

e) If you want to seat a group of 15, how many tables will you need?

1
 ❖ Example 2: Write the relation for each table.

❖ Example 3: An airplane is cruising at a height of 10 000 m. It descends to land. This table shows the height
of the plane every minute after it began its descent. The height of the plane changes at a constant rate
a) Write an expression for the height in terms of the time since the plane began its descent.
b) Write an equation that relates the height of the plane to the time since it began its descent.
c) What is the height of the plane after 15 min?
d) How long after beginning its descent does the plane land?

2
4.1 Student Practice

1. Write the relation for each table.

2. Triangles are made using plastic straws.

a) Draw the next two figures in the pattern.

b) Use the diagrams to complete the following table.

# of
Triangles (t)

# of Straws
(s)

c) Describe the pattern in words. (If you knew the number of triangles, what would you do to find the number of
straws?)

3
d) Let t be the number of triangles. Write an expression for the number of straws in t triangles. (Remember:
Expressions do not have equal signs!)

e) Let s represent the number of straws and t represent the number of triangles. Write an equation that relates the
number of straws, s, to the number of triangles, t.

f) Use the equation to determine the number of straws in a diagram with 20 triangles.

3. Consider the following diagrams of squares and triangles

a) Draw the next two figures in the pattern.

b) Use the diagrams to complete the following table.

# of Squares
(s)

# of
Triangles (t)

c) Describe the pattern in words. (To find the number of triangles if I knew the number of squares, I would…)

4
d) Let s represent the number of squares. Write an expression that represents the pattern.

e) Let s represent the number of squares and t represent the number of triangles. Write an equation, relating s and
t, that represents the pattern.

f) Use the equation to determine the number of triangles that will be in the diagram with 23 squares

4. Brandon takes a summer job at a book packaging plant. He gets paid $45 per day, plus $3 for every box of
books he packs.
a) Write an equation relating Brandon’s daily pay to the number of boxes he packs that day.

b) Use the equation to determine how much Brandon will get paid if he packs 31 boxes on Monday.

c) Use the equation to determine how many boxes Brandon packed if he is paid $81.

5
Section 4.2 - Linear Relations
● When the graph of the relation is a straight line, we have a linear relation. In a linear relation, a constant
change in one quantity produces a constant change in the related quantity.
● Independent variable – a variable whose value is not determined by the other variable. It does not depend
on anything. It’s placed on the bottom of the graph, on the x-axis (horizontal axis).
● Dependent variable – a variable whose value is determined by the other variable. It always depends on the
independent variable. It’s placed on the side of the graph, on the y-axis (vertical axis).

For example, look at the first 4 rectangles in a pattern shown below.

The Relation as a Picture:

The Relation in Words: Rectangle 1 has perimeter 6 cm; then, as the rectangle number increases by 1, its
perimeter increases by 2 cm.

The Relation in a Table:

The Relation in a Graph:

The Relation in an Equation: 𝑃 = 2𝑛 + 4

6
 ❖ Example 1: A car starts from a stop and accelerates at a constant rate. The chart below shows the
acceleration of the car.

➔ There are two types of variables in

this graph, time and speed
➔ Independent variable is _______________________________________
➔ Dependent variable is ________________________________________
➔ When graphing, the dependent variable is always on the_____________________________________
and the independent variable is always on the _______________________
➔ Since the graph of the above relation is a straight line, it is called a ____________________________
➔ Relations that are not linear are called __________________
➔ We can tell that a relationship is linear if:
◆ The points in the graph lay in a straight line
◆ The value of the both variables increase or
decrease by a constant amount

NOTE: The graph we use to plot points is called the

Cartesian Coordinate System. It consists of:
● x-axis, which goes horizontal (across)
● y-axis, which goes vertical (up/down)
● The origin , the point where the x and y axes meet.
It’s coordinates are (0, 0)
● Four quadrants

7
NOTE: A point consists of two coordinates: (𝑥, 𝑦)
● The first number represents 𝑥, it’s the distance to move in the horizontal direction.
○ Negative # – move left
○ Positive # – move right
● The second number represents 𝑦, it’s the distance to move in the vertical direction.
○ Negative # – move down
○ Positive # – move up
● 𝑥 always goes first!!!

Types of Data
1. Discrete Data
○ Discrete data is data that can be counted so it does not
contain fractions.
○ When graphing points that represent discrete data, the
points are not connected.
○ If there are no valid values between the plotted points,
then no line is drawn. The graph to the right has discrete
data because it is not possible to have a fraction of a
person. Since there are no valid points between the
plotted points, the points are not connected.

2. Continuous Data
○ Continuous data has an infinite number of values
between data points. It makes sense to have fractions.
○ When graphing points that represent continuous data,
points are connected with a solid line.
○ The graph below has continuous data because it makes
sense to have fractional time. The points, therefore, are
connected with a solid line.

8
 ❖ Example 1: The table of values shows the cost of renting movies.
a) Graph the data. Does it make sense to join the points on the graph?
b) Is the relation linear? Justify your answer.
c) Use the table to describe the pattern in the rental costs. How is this
pattern shown in the graph?

❖ Example 2: A relation has the equation: 𝑦 = 6 − 3𝑥

a) Create a table of values for the relation for values of x from -3 to 3.
b) Graph the relation. Does it make sense to join the points on the graph? Explain.
c) What patterns are in the graph? How do these patterns relate to the table of values?
d) Is the relation linear? Justify your answer.

9
 ❖ Example 3: The student council is planning to hold a dance. The profit in dollars is 4 times the number of
students who attend, minus $200 for the cost of the music.
a) Write an equation that relates the profit to the number of students who attend.
b) Create a table of values for this relation.
c) Graph the data in the table. Does it make sense to join the points? Explain.
d) How many students have to attend to make a profit?

10
4.2 Student Practice

1. Tell which graphs and tables represent linear relations and explain why or why not.

11
 2. Draw a graph for each situation. Is the data discrete, or continuous? Is the relation linear, or nonlinear?
a) Dylan walks at 2km/h. Complete the table showing the distance he has hiked.

Is the data discrete or continuous? Why?

Is the relation linear or nonlinear? Why?

b)

Is the data discrete or continuous? Why?

Is the relation linear or nonlinear? Why?

12
c)

Is the data discrete or continuous? Why?

Is the relation linear or nonlinear? Why?

d)

Is the data discrete or continuous? Why?

Is the relation linear or nonlinear? Why?

13
Section 4.3 - Another Form of the Equation for a Linear Relation
Equations for a straight line can look a little different than all of the ones we have seen so far. For example, imagine
we have two integers, 𝑥 and 𝑦 that have a sum of 3. We can write this linear relation as 𝑥 + 𝑦 = 3.

Every linear relation that we have dealt with has been a slanted line, or an oblique line. However, we can also have
horizontal lines and vertical lines.

❖ Example 1: Graph the following:

a) 𝑥 = −4

14
b) 𝑦 + 2 = 0

c) 2𝑥 = 5

d) 3𝑥 − 2𝑦 = 6

15
4.3 Student Practice

1. Graph the following using a table of values.

a) 𝑦= 7

b) 𝑥 − 3. 5 = 0

c) 𝑥 + 𝑦 = 4

16
d) 𝑦 =− 2𝑥 − 3

e) 3𝑥 + 2𝑦 = 8

f) 3𝑥 − 𝑦 = 1

17