What does it mean to say that a function is linear? Select all that apply. \( \square \) A. The function has a graph that includes the point \( (0,0) \). \( \square \) B. The function can be described by an equation of the form \( \mathrm{y}=\mathrm{mx}+\mathrm{b} \). \( \square \) C. The function has a constant rate of change. \( \square \) D. The function has a rate of change that increases. \( \square \) E. The function has a straight-line graph.

A function is considered linear if it has a constant rate of change, which means that for every unit increase in the input, the output increases by a fixed amount. This characteristic ensures that the relationship between the variables is directly proportional and consistent. When we talk about linear functions, they can be represented by the equation \( y = mx + b \), where \( m \) is the slope, showing the steepness of the line, and \( b \) is the y-intercept, indicating where the line crosses the y-axis. This form captures the essence of linearity beautifully!