Thread: quadratic linear or exponential

which are quadratic,linear,and exponential?

1. 1,4,9,16,25,36

2. 6,9,12,15,18

3. 3,9,18,30,45,63

Originally Posted by william

which are quadratic,linear,and exponential?

1. 1,4,9,16,25,36

2. 6,9,12,15,18

3. 3,9,18,30,45,63

the first is the series of the squares of the first 6 natural numbers. Hence... quadratic, since it relates to squares.

The second is simply adding 3 each time, hence linear.

The intervals between elements of the third increase rapidly in size. It is exponential.

Originally Posted by Mush

the first is the series of the squares of the first 6 natural numbers. Hence... quadratic, since it relates to squares.

The second is simply adding 3 each time, hence linear.

The intervals between elements of the third increase rapidly in size. It is exponential.

would they be discrete or continuous relationships? I'm thinking that the quadratic and exponential ones are discrete and the linear one is continuous, what do you think?

Originally Posted by william

would they be discrete or continuous relationships? I'm thinking that the quadratic and exponential ones are discrete and the linear one is continuous, what do you think?

Yes I would agree. The value of each term in the quadratic and exponential sequences is not really dependent on the value of the previous term. However, the value of a term of the linear sequence depends on the value of the previous term.