# How do you determine if a system is linear or nonlinear?

• Dec 3rd 2012, 10:09 AM
MathIsOhSoHard
How do you determine if a system is linear or nonlinear?
$\binom{x'}{y'}=\binom{x^2+2y-8}{4x-2y+3}$

What defines a linear system and a nonlinear system? What should I look for?
• Dec 3rd 2012, 10:13 AM
Deveno
Re: How do you determine if a system is linear or nonlinear?
the squared term in the top coordinate is a dead give-away.
• Dec 3rd 2012, 10:22 AM
MathIsOhSoHard
Re: How do you determine if a system is linear or nonlinear?
Quote:

Originally Posted by Deveno
the squared term in the top coordinate is a dead give-away.

Does that make it linear? My book doesn't define what a linear and nonlinear system is so I'm struggling to find the differences.
• Dec 3rd 2012, 10:47 AM
Scopur
Re: How do you determine if a system is linear or nonlinear?
That squared term makes it non linear. Linear... like a line y= mx + b.
• Dec 3rd 2012, 11:21 AM
MathIsOhSoHard
Re: How do you determine if a system is linear or nonlinear?
Quote:

Originally Posted by Scopur
That squared term makes it non linear. Linear... like a line y= mx + b.

Is that it? Is it just a reference to the graph that comes out from the equations?
Well that's easy. I can't believe I didn't get that, I thought there was more to it lol, thanks