Question

Which of the following is a linear expression?

• A. $x^2$
• B. $x^3+y$
• C. $x+y$
• D. $x^2+y^2$

Answer 1

The correct option is C $x+y$

$x^2$ has a power of 2. Hence it is not a linear expression
$x^3+y$ has a maximum exponent of 3. Hence it is not a linear expression
$x+y$ is a linear expression, since the power on each variable is 1. Hence, the highest exponent of the terms is 1.
$x^2+y^2$ is again not a linear expression since the highest exponent in the expression is 2.