Re: Modeling data...Linear or direct proportional

[Chuck Britton <britton@ODIE.NCSSM.EDU>]

At 1:14 PM -0600 11/23/98, Norman Lohstreter wrote:
> > I usually reserve the word "proportional" to y=m*x and use the word
> > "linear" when y=m*x+b. To make it more acceptable to all I also say
> > that "if doubling and tripling of x also doubles and triples y, then the
> > relation is proportional.
>
> Ludwik is correct.  This is also the convention used in Woukshop Physics and
> Real Time Physics.  I have not checked with the math department on this, but
> I have not had any comments from students that they do it any differently in
> math class either.
>
> Pete Lohstreter

The last EE course I took (15 years ago) the prof made the point that only

        y = mx  relations 'should be called linear'.


They (EE's) will often include an 'offset' to make a relationship 'linear'


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Chuck Britton                                   Education is what is left when
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North Carolina School of Science & Math         you learned in school.
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