A linear model is kind of like a line on a graph. It's used to show how two things might be related. For example, let's say that you want to know how much you need to study and how it affects your test scores. You can draw a line on the graph and it will show you the relationship between the amount of time you spend studying and the scores you get on your tests. So if you spend more time studying, your test scores will go up along the line.