x- and y-intercepts

The x-intercept is the point where a line crosses the x-axis, and the y-intercept is the point where a line crosses the y-axis.

​There are two ways to write intercepts.
You can write the coordinates of the intercept as shown in this graph:
the x-intercept is (-4, 0) and
the y-intercept is (0, 6)
OR
You can just write:
the x-intercept is -4 and,
the y-intercept is 6

Finding X- and Y- Intercepts from a Graph

• The x-intercept is the point where a line crosses the x-axis.

• The y-intercept in the point where a line crosses the y-axis.

Using an Equation to Find Intercepts

If you don't have a graph, you can still find the x- and y-intercepts of a linear function by using the equation of the function.


The next slide shows how to find the intercepts for a linear function with the equation 3x + 4y = 24.

Finding Intercepts Algebraically

Here is another example of finding the intercepts of a linear function using its equation.
Plug in zero for the other coordinate.

​Graphing Using Intercepts

Now that you can find the intercepts using an equation, you can graph the linear function by graphing the two intercepts and connecting them with a line.

The next slide gives the steps and an example of how to do this.

Graphing Using Intercepts

1. Find the x-intercept by setting y = 0 and solving for x.

2. Graph the x-intercept

3. Find the y-intercept by setting x = 0 and solving for y.

4. Graph the y-intercept

5. Draw a line connecting the 2 points