A function f: RealsN ® RealsM is linear if it has the form
f(x) = Ax
for some M ´ N matrix A.
Still more interestingly, f: RealsN ´ RealsM ® RealsK is linear if it has the form
f(s, x) = Cs + Dx
for some K ´ N matrix C and K ´ M matrix D.