Question

analyzing a situation to determine a relationship
which situation would be best represented by a linear function?
the temperature of a glass of ice water increases by a factor of 1.05 until it reaches room temperature.
wind chill temperature decreases at a greater rate for a low wind velocity and decreases at a lower rate for a high wind velocity when the temperature is 10° fahrenheit.
the outside temperature decreases at a constant rate per hour between sunset and sunrise.
the body temperature of a person with pneumonia increases rapidly and then decreases as an antibiotic takes effect.

Explanation:

A linear function has a constant rate of change. In the first option, the temperature increases by a factor (exponential - like behavior). In the second option, the rate of decrease of wind - chill temperature varies with wind velocity, not constant. In the fourth option, the body temperature has a non - constant pattern of increase and decrease. But when the outside temperature decreases at a constant rate per hour between sunset and sunrise, it has a constant rate of change, which is characteristic of a linear function.

Answer:

The outside temperature decreases at a constant rate per hour between sunset and sunrise.