Linear function

In mathematics, the term linear function refers to two distinct but related notions:

• In calculus and related areas, a linear function is a function whose graph is a straight line, that is, a polynomial function of degree zero (a constant polynomial) or one (a linear polynomial). For distinguishing such a linear function from the other concept, the term affine function is often used.
• In linear algebra, mathematical analysis, and functional analysis, a linear function is a kind of function between vector spaces.