Given a set of data, what steps would you take to identify whether the data showed linear or exponential growth?

The very first thing to do to identify whether the data showed linear or exponential growth is to plot the data. By plotting the data, you are able to visualize the form or trend of your data. You can also see if your data trend forms a line. If it forms a line, it is linear. If your data shows somehow a rapid increasing magnitude of slope then, it is exponential.

Make sure that the x-values are spaced apart in equal intervals. Determine whether the y-values increase by the same amount or by the same ratio. Decide that the data is linear because the y-values increase by a common difference. Decide that the data is exponential because the y-values increase by a ratio or factor.

Step-by-step explanation: