Given the table, determine if the data represents a linear or an exponential function and find a possible formula for the function. x 0 1 2 3 4 f of x 18 14 10 6 2

As x increases by 1, the function values change by −4 each time: 14 − 18 = −4, 10 − 14 = −4, 6 − 10 = −4, and 2 − 6 = −4. A constant difference means the data is linear. Since f(0) = 18 and the slope is −4, a formula is y = −4x + 18, which is choice C.

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