Question

Which kind of function best models the set of data points `(-1,22), (0,6), (1,-10), (2, -26),` and `(3, -42)`?

Answer 1

Linear

Explanation:

Note that both the `x` coordinates and `y` coordinates are in arithmetic progression. Even if that were not so, note that if we take any two distinct points from those given, then we find the slope is `-16`. So they are colinear.

It can be modelled by the function:

`y = -16x+6`

graph{(y+16x-6)(100(x+1)^2+(y-22)^2-0.2)(100x^2+(y-6)^2-0.2)(100(x-1)^2+(y+10)^2-0.2)(100(x-2)^2+(y+26)^2-0.2)(100(x-3)^2+(y+42)^2-0.2) = 0 [-3, 5, -55, 55]}