No, a parabola is not a linear function. A linear function is represented graphically by a straight line, characterized by the equation of the form y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept. In contrast, a parabola is a U-shaped curve that is represented by a quadratic equation of the form y = ax2 + bx + c, where a, b, and c are constants and a cannot be zero.
The key difference lies in the degree of the equation. A linear function is first-degree (or degree one), meaning the highest exponent of the variable is 1, resulting in a straight line. A parabola, being a second-degree (or degree two) equation due to the squared term, has a more complex shape that can open upwards or downwards depending on the value of a.
In summary, due to their differing mathematical forms and graphical representations, a parabola cannot be classified as a linear function.