linear equation

noun

: an equation of the first degree in any number of variables

Examples of linear equation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As for nonlinear operations, these don’t follow the classical linear equations that are critical to solving conventional problems. —John Werner, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024

And many math problems, including relatively simple ones like solving linear equations, are thought to lie outside this class. —Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 21 Mar. 2024

Simple math, Getz argues, shows that adding a constraint (doing well) to a linear equation (doing good) will never yield as good an outcome as without the constraint. —Bypeter Vanham, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2023

For instance, Motta’s discussion of Algebra 2 concepts, such as linear equations and formulas, are applied to the building of a rocket, which the 14- or 15-year-old student can then test. —Marco Santana, orlandosentinel.com, 19 Aug. 2019

Lemon plus garlic is not a linear equation; the presence of lemon transforms the fundamental tastes and smells that garlic has to offer. —Ali Bouzari, SFChronicle.com, 12 July 2019

Word History

First Known Use

1816, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

linear equation

noun

: an equation in which each term is either a constant or contains only one variable, in which each variable has an exponent of 1, and which always has a straight line as a graph

y = mx + b is the general form of a linear equation where m and b are any real numbers