Linear algorithms tend to be things where, at one pass-through, you reduce the problem by a constant amount by one. If you reduce it by two, 1 it's going to be the same thing.

有问题么？,线性复杂度的算法，当进行了一个,常量级步数的操作的时候，将问题的规模缩小了一个。

麻省理工公开课 - 计算机科学及编程导论课程节选

In a non-linear problem, the most relevant number for projecting sea level rise is the doubling time for the rate of mass loss.

FORBES: Breaking News: The Climate Actually Changes!

So they don't have enough dots to connect, and they end up with very linear solutions without a broad perspective on the problem.

CNN: The aging brain: Why getting older just might be awesome

Focusing on a single problem and memorizing the prison and its routines are perfect examples of linear or convergent thinking.

FORBES: The Pittsburgh Six: The Template for Innovation