X-Intercept
Where a line crosses the x-axis on a graph.
Y-Intercept
Where a line crosses the y-axis on a graph.
How to find the x-intercept
To find the x-intercept set y= 0 and solve the equation for x.
Ex. `y= 2x – 8
step 1: Set the y as 0.
step 2: Isolate the x. When we bring the x over to the opposite side of the equal sign it changes into a negative number.
step 3: Divide both sides by -2 to leave only the x variable.
step 4: Once you have solved it, the number remaining is what x is equal to.
How to find the y-intercept
To find the y-intercept set x = 0 and solve for y.
Ex. y= 3x -15
step 1:Set the x as 0.
step 2: The Y is already isolated, so we only need to -15 from 0 and we get -15.
Why
It’s important to know how to solve equations to find the x and y intercepts because it is a huge part of graphing and having the skill to find the intercepts quickly will make graphing easier. It will also help in finding patterns.