Consider the graph of the relationship between hours worked and earnings.

a.

When would this graph represent a linear relationship.

When the earnings are determined by a constant hourly wage, the total earnings can be represented

by , where is the hourly wage.

b.

Example of a linear relationship in a real-world situation.

The relationship between the cost and the number of gallons of gasoline purchased.

Within a transaction, the cost of gasoline is constant so the total cost and the number of gallons

purchased are a linear relationship.

a. The total earnings can be represented by . 

b. The cost of gasoline is constant so the total cost and the number of gallons purchased are a linear

relationship.