linear function

noun

1

: a mathematical function in which the variables appear only in the first degree, are multiplied by constants, and are combined only by addition and subtraction

2

: linear transformation

Examples of linear function in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That’s a tour of the sheaf of straight lines, or linear functions, over the real line. —Konstantin Kakaes, Quanta Magazine, 19 July 2024

Recursively modeling the fundamental characteristic of linear functions — the constant rate of change — gives us another way to think about this relationship. —Patrick Honner, Quanta Magazine, 22 Mar. 2024

There are six algebra modules, for example, including ones about linear functions, quadratics, and exponentials. —IEEE Spectrum, 22 July 2023

Now, there is no linear function that passes through these three points. —Patrick Honner, Quanta Magazine, 23 Jan. 2023

This weighted sum is then fed into a non-linear function called an activation function—a step that enables neural networks to model complex non-linear phenomena. —Timothy B. Lee, Ars Technica, 2 Dec. 2019

And a linear function can't model complex real-world phenomena. —Timothy B. Lee, Ars Technica, 18 Dec. 2018

One of our favorite refrains: tennis careers are not linear functions. —Jon Wertheim, SI.com, 18 Mar. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

linear function

noun

: a function whose graph is a straight line and which is represented by an equation of the form y = ax + b where a and b are constants, a does not equal zero, and x is any real number