This week in Math 10, I have chosen to talk about X and Y intercepts.

Before I explain X and Y intercepts, I have to explain graphing relations. This is a linear relation on a graph, which shows coordinates on a Cartesian plane, coordinates being the specific location of a point.

The relation depicted here is y=3x-2; Y is depicted by the vertical lines, and goes up to represent increasing value. X is the same, but horizontal and moving left to right, with numbers to the right representing increasing value. The line represents each possible pair of values that could be X and Y. Coordinates are written as (X, Y), with the brackets.

The X and Y intercepts are where the line intersects the X and Y axes (the very dark, numbered lines.) With linear relations like this one, it can be determined by graphing, like the shown image, or it can be determined mathematically. Intercepts always have zero as the opposite coordinate to the axe being intersected. (ex: X intercept has 0=y, Y intercept has 0=x)

Here, you can see that the Y intercept is located at (0, -2) on the graph. We know that X is equal to 0, so let’s perform the relation equation to verify this.

y=3(0)-2

y=-2

Indeed, Y is equal to -2.

Here is another graphed relation, x=(-4y)+8

Let’s calculate the X intercept, located at (8, 0).

x=(-4(0))+8

x=8