Why is the scientific method described as nonlinear?

a. the steps of the scientific method are repeated in a cycle.
b. scientists often repeat one or more steps several times.
c. sometimes scientists forget to perform some of the steps.
d. the steps can be performed only once but in any order.

answer-

the statement that f(x) = |x+a| + b has exactly one x-intercept is sometimes correct.

solution-

it solely depends on b, whether the function will have one or two or zero x intercept.

this plot of the given function, f(x) = |x+a| + b will be the basic absolute value graph i.e v shape, with vertex translated to (-a, b), instead of origin.

1-   if b is zero, the graph will have exactly one x-intercept, at x= -a

2- if b is positive, the whole graph will be above the x-axis, hence it will have no x-intercepts.

3- if b is negative, the graph will be below the x-axis, hence it will have two x-intercepts.

∴ the statement is sometimes true.