A linear relationship describes a connection between two variables where a change in one variable results in a proportional change in the other. This relationship can be represented graphically as a straight line on a coordinate plane. The equation of a linear relationship is often written in the form y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept. In a linear relationship, the rate of change remains constant, meaning that for every unit increase in one variable, the other variable changes by a fixed amount. This concept is commonly used in various fields, including mathematics, economics, and science, to analyze trends and make predictions.