Linear Law

A linear expression can be written in the form Y =mX + c , where X and Y are variables, m and c
are constants.

Not all equations are linear. However, by rewriting the x and y axes, non-linear equations can be
changed into linear form and when graphed, a straight line can be obtained.

For the following equations, rewrite into a form so a straight line can be obtained.

Y and X can only be in terms of known constants and variables

m and c can only be in terms of constants.

Examples of changing an equation from non-linear into linear form:

Equation Y X m c
a
1. y= +b √ x
x

2. y=ab x

3. y=ln (ax 2 +b)

4. x=ay+ bxy

ax
5. y=
x +b
Question 1

x
The variables x and y are such that when is plotted against x , a straight line of gradient 2 is
y
1
obtained. It is given that y= when x=3 .
5
(i) Express y in terms of x. [3]

(ii) When the graph of x=2y is plotted on the same axes as the previous line, the two lines
intersect at one point. Find the coordinates of the point of intersection. [2]

x 7
[Ans: (i) y= (ii) (− , 2) ]
2 x +9 2

Question 2

The variables x and y are related by the equation y= pq x−1 . When ln y is plotted against x , a
straight line graph can be drawn passing through the points (−1,1) and (4,11) .

(i) Find the values of p and of q. [4]

(ii) Find the value of y when x=0.5 . [2]

Leave all answers in terms of e.

1
[Ans: (i) p=e 5 , q=e2 (ii) y= ]
√e
Question 3

1 2
A container in the shape of a pyramid has a volume of V cm3, given by V = x (ax +b) , where
3
2
x is the height of the container in cm, and (ax +b) is the area of the rectangular base, of which a
and b are unknown constants. Corresponding values of x and V are shown in the table below.

x 5 10 15 20
V 150 600 1650 3600

(i) By rearranging the equation, plot the graph of a suitable straight line. [4]

(ii) Using the graph in (i), estimate the values of constants a and b. [3]

(iii) Explain how another straight line drawn on your graph can lead to an estimate of the value
of x when the base area of the pyramid is 3 times the square of its height. Draw this graph
and estimate the value of x from your graph. [3]

V
[Ans: (ii) a ≈ 0.4 , b ≈ 20 (iii) =3 x 2 , x ≈ 7.7
x
Question 4

The table below shows values of the variables x and y which are related by the equation
ay= x( 1−bx ) , where a and b are constants. One of the values of y is believed to be inaccurate.

x 2 3.5 4.5 6 7
y 5.0 9.1 14.0 21.0 26.3

y
(i) Plot the straight line of against x . [3]
x

(ii) Determine which value of y is inaccurate and estimate its correct value. [2]

(iii) Estimate the value of a and of b. [3]

An alternative method for obtaining straight line graph for the equation ay= x(1−bx ) is to plot x
y
on the vertical axis and on the horizontal axis.
x

(iv) Without plotting a second graph, use your values of a and b found in (iii) to estimate the
y
gradient and vertical intercept of the graph of x against . [3]
x

[Ans: (ii) Inaccurate value of y=9.1 correct value of y ≈ 10.15

(iii) a ≈ 0.5, b ≈−0.125 (iv) gradient = 4 , vertical intercept = -8 ]

Question 5

The temperature, A °C, of an object decreases with time, t hours. It is known that A and t can be
modelled by the equation A= A0 e−kt , where A0 and k are constants. Measured values of A and t
are given in the table below.

t (hours) 2 4 6 8
A (°C) 49.1 40.2 32.9 26,9

(i) Plot ln A against t and draw a straight line graph. [3]

(ii) Use your graph to estimate the value of A0 and pf k. [4]

(iii) Assuming that the model is still appropriate, estimate the number of hours for the
temperature of the object to be halved. [2]

[Ans: (ii) A0 ≈ 59.7 , k ≈ 0.1 (iii) 6.93 hours ]