Which equation represents a linear function? equation 1: y = 2x2 + 1 equation 2: y2 = 3x + 1 equation 3: y = 5x – 1 equation 4: y = 4x4 – 1 (5 points) equation 1 equation 2 equation 3 equation 4

The answer is:  [C]:  "Equation 3" .

{which is:  " y = 5x – 1 " } .

Note:  Among the FOUR (4) equations in the answer choices;  "Equation 3" is the only equation that does NOT contain an "exponent" (that is; an exponent other than the (implied exponent of "postive 1").

Furthermore,  "Equation 3" is written in "slope-intercept form" ; that is:

"y = mx + b" ;  the form of a linear equation.