Reduction to Linear Form Summary

Suppose we have some experimental data involving two variables. We think that our data fits a particular formula, but were not sure. So we plot a graph. But if we just plot y against x , we will still not be absolutely sure that our equation is right because we cant recognise graphs that accurately. The only graph that we can be absolutely sure of is a straight line graph. So instead of plotting y against x we plot two functions of y and x against each other in such a way that if our formula is correct, we will get a straight line. (Note that there are often several different ways of doing it that would all work)

We rearrange into the form Y = mX + c where Y and X are any functions of y , x and m and c are constants (so must not contain y , x ) Examples What do we think the law is? y = ax 2 + b Rearranging/ working out X Y m c

y = ax 2 + bx

1 1 + =a x y

y = ax b

y = ab x

y=

a + bx 2 x

y 2 + x 2 ay + bx 2 = 0