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JEE Main 2026 Preparation: Question Papers, Solutions, Mock Tests & Strategy Unacademy » JEE Study Material » Mathematics » Differences Between Constant Function and Linear Function

Differences Between Constant Function and Linear Function

The term "function" refers to the assignment of exactly one element from one set to another in mathematics.

Table of Content
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Constant function

The constant functions are the most basic of all the different types of real-valued functions. A constant function is a function that takes the same value for f(x) regardless of the value of x in the input. A generic constant function is denoted by the notation f(x) = c, where c is a constant that is not explicitly stated. Constants that are used as examples

Functions such as f(x) = 0, f(x) = 1, f(x) =, f(x) = 0.456238496, and f(x) equaling any other real number you can think of are examples of functions. The wonderful thing about constant functions is that you can substitute any real number you choose for x and you will instantly know the value of the function at that x, with no need for any calculators at all.

As an illustration, suppose f(x) = 1. What is the value of f(.28452041819)? You only have to say 1 to be finished.

Furthermore, the graph of a constant function is relatively straightforward. Keep in mind that the graph of a function f is a curve where every point (x, y) on the curve is such that y = f is represented by the graph (x). Assume that we want to plot the function f(x) = 2 on a graph. For any point (x, y) on the graph of f(x), what do we know about the value of the variable y? As previously stated, we know that if (x, y) is on the graph, then y = f(x) = 2, which means that any point on the graph of f(x) = 2 has the form (x, 2). If we declare that the domain, or the set of inputs, is the entire real line, we can deduce that the graph of f(x) = 2 is a horizontal line that passes over the y-axis at the point x = 2. (0, 2). In general, the graph of the function f(x) = c is the horizontal line that passes through the y-axis at the point where the function is defined as (0, c). To be more specific, the graph of the function f(x) = 0 serves as the x-axis.

Assume that we are looking at the graph of the function f(x) = c and that we have decided to increase the value of the variable c. What happens to the graph of the function when the function is called? The function remains constant, although with a greater constant, resulting in a horizontal line as the graph’s representation. Is it going to be higher or lower? In this case, higher because if the new constant, which we will refer to as c, is more than c, then the resulting graph will pass through the point (0, c ), which is higher in elevation than the point (0, c) on the y-axis. In other words, increasing the constant in a constant function has an effect on the graph of that function by bringing it higher up the y-axis while maintaining it horizontal in the graph.

Linear Functions

A linear function is defined as a function of the form f(x) = mx + b, where m and b are constants. A linear function is defined as a function of the form Because the graphs of these functions are lines in the plane, we refer to them as linear functions.

To demonstrate why this is true, let us plot the function f(x) = 2x + 1 on a graph. We begin by compiling a numerical table of f’s values, which looks like this:

x 

f(x)

-2

-3

-1

-1

0

1

1

3

2

5

Let’s plot these numbers as points on a plane to see how they change over time. As we go, we observe something interesting: for every one unit rise in the value of x, the value of f(x) grows by two unit increments. As a result, when we plot the graph of f(x), we find that all of the points fall along the same line. Both the slope and the y-intercept of a line can be used to characterise it: first, how much the function (f(x)) grows as x increases by one unit, and second, where it contacts or crosses the y-axis at its intersection point, which is termed the y-intercept. The slope of a linear function’s graph is represented by the letter m, and the y-intercept is represented by the letter b. f(x) = 2x + 1 is the graph of f(x) = 2x + 1 in this example, and it is the line with slope 2 that intersects the y-axis at the position (0, 1).

As an example, consider what would happen to the graph of a linear function, f(x)=mx+b, when we increased the value of b while keeping m constant. However, the new graph would intersect the y-axis at a higher location, albeit having the same slope as the old one.

Even if we decrease b while leaving m constant, the graph has the same slope as before, but it now intersects the y-axis at a lower location than before. As an illustration, consider what occurs when we increase or decrease c in constant functions.

What happens if we raise the value of m while keeping b constant? The new line will intersect the y-axis at the same position as the old one, but it will have a steeper slope this time around. You might imagine that, as the value of m increases, the line that represents the graph of this function pivots on its y-intercept and rotates counterclockwise around that point. In the same way, if we decrease m while keeping b constant, the line will pivot on its y-intercept and turn clockwise around the point of origin.

Finally, we would like to point out that when m is zero, we are left with a constant function once more. When m is positive, the line has an upward slope, and when m is negative, the line has a downward slope, which means that as x increases, f(x) drops, and vice versa.

Conclusion

The constant functions are the most basic of all the different types of real-valued functions. A constant function is a function that takes the same value for f(x) regardless of the value of x in the input.Furthermore, the graph of a constant function is relatively straightforward. Keep in mind that the graph of a function f is a curve where every point (x, y) on the curve is such that y = f is represented by the graph (x). A linear function is defined as a function of the form f(x) = mx + b, where m and b are constants. A linear function is defined as a function of the form Because the graphs of these functions are lines in the plane, we refer to them as linear functions.

 
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Frequently asked questions

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When it comes to functions, what's the difference between linear and constant?

Answer: The difference between linear and constant is that linear has the shape of a line and is straight, whereas c...Read full

Is A linear function a constant function?

Answer: It is possible to describe a linear function by using the equation y = mx + b, in which the coefficients of ...Read full

What is the best way to tell if a function is constant or linear?

Answer: In order to determine whether a table of numbers reflects a linear function, it is necessary to determine wh...Read full

Write an example of A constant function.

Answer: A constant function is a function that takes the same value for f(x) regardless of the value of x in the inp...Read full

Which of the equations is a linear function?

Answer: A linear function is defined as the formula y = mx + b. So the graph of this function will be a straight lin...Read full

Answer: The difference between linear and constant is that linear has the shape of a line and is straight, whereas constant has the shape of a line and is changing over time.

 

Answer: It is possible to describe a linear function by using the equation y = mx + b, in which the coefficients of the function are constants, as shown below. As a result, for every fixed change in the independent variable, there is an equal and opposite fixed change in the dependent variable.

Answer: In order to determine whether a table of numbers reflects a linear function, it is necessary to determine whether the rate of change is constant. If there is, you’re looking at a linear function, which is quite interesting!

 

Answer: A constant function is a function that takes the same value for f(x) regardless of the value of x in the input. A generic constant function is denoted by the notation f(x) = c, where c is a constant that is not explicitly stated. For example, the constant functions f(x) = 0, f(x) = 1, and f(x) = √ are all examples of constant functions.

Answer: A linear function is defined as the formula y = mx + b. So the graph of this function will be a straight line in the (x, y) plane, indicating that it is linear.

 

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