You can identify a linear pattern in a table by observing if the numbers increase or decrease by a consistent amount or, alternatively, if plotting the table's data points results in a straight line.
According to a YouTube video titled "Math 8 - Representing Patterns with Tables and Graphs," a linear pattern in a table is indicated in two main ways:
- Consistent Increments: If the values in the table increase (or decrease) by the same amount each time, the pattern is linear. For example, if 'y' increases by 3 for every increase of 1 in 'x'.
- Straight Line Graph: If you plot the data from the table on a graph, and the points form a straight line, then the pattern is linear.
Here's a tabular example illustrating a linear pattern:
| x | y |
|---|---|
| 1 | 2 |
| 2 | 4 |
| 3 | 6 |
| 4 | 8 |
In this table, for every increase of 1 in 'x', 'y' increases by 2. Plotting these points (1,2), (2,4), (3,6), and (4,8) on a graph would show a straight line. Therefore, the pattern is linear.
