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The x and y intercepts of a graph are points of intersection of the graph with the x axis and the y axis respectively. This a tutorial with examples and detailed solutions on how to find these points.
Example 1: Find the x and the y intercepts of the graph of function f defined by
f(x) = - 3 x + 9
Solution to Example 1
- Since a point on the y axis has x coordinate equal to zero, to find the y interecpt, we set x to zero and find the y coordinate which is f(0).
f(0) = -3(0) + 9 = 9
- A point on the x axis has y coordinate equal to 0, to find the x intercept, we set y = f(x) = 0 and solve for x
f(x) = -3 x + 9 = 0
- Solve for x.
x = 3
- The x and y intercepts of the graph of f are
x intercept: (3 , 0)
y intercept: (0 , 9)
Example 2: Find the x and the y intercepts of the graph of the 2 variable equation given by
(x - 1) 2 + (y - 2) 2 = 16
Solution to Example 2
- We first set x = 0 to find the y intrecpt.
(0 - 1) 2 + (y - 2) 2 = 16
- Solve for y
1 + (y - 2) 2 = 16
(y - 2) 2 = 15
y = 2 + sqrt(15) and y = 2 - sqrt(15)
- Set y = 0 and solve for x
x = 1 + sqrt(12) and x = 1 - sqrt(12)
- The x and y intercepts of the graph of the given equation are
x intercepts: (1 + sqrt(12) , 0) and ((1 - sqrt(12) , 0)
y intercepts: (0 , 2 + sqrt(15)) and (0 , 2 - sqrt(15))
- The graph shown below is that of the given equation. Examine the x and y intercepts and compare to those calculated. Note that the x and y intercepts may be determined graphically.
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