How to Find and Graph x and y Axis Intercepts Video Lesson
How to Find x and y axis intercepts
To find an x intercept, substitute y = 0 into the equation and solve for x.
To find the y axis intercept, substitute x = 0 into the equation and solve for y.
For example, find the ๐ฅ and y intercepts of 2y + 3๐ฅ = 12.
![How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (1) How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (1)](https://i0.wp.com/mathsathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/finding-x-and-y-intercepts-1024x578.png)
To find the ๐ฅ-axis intercept, first substitute y = 0 into the equation.
When y = 0, the equation 2y + 3๐ฅ = 12 becomes 3๐ฅ = 12.
Solve the resulting equation for ๐ฅ.
3๐ฅ = 12 can be solved for ๐ฅ by dividing both sides of the equation by 3.
๐ฅ = 4 and so, the ๐ฅ-axis intercept has coordinates (4, 0).
To find the y-axis intercept, first substitute ๐ฅ = 0 into the equation.
When ๐ฅ = 0, the equation 2y + 3๐ฅ = 12 becomes 2y = 12.
Solve the resulting equation for y.
2y = 12 can be solved for y by dividing both sides of the equation by 2.
y = 6 and so, the y-axis intercept has coordinates (0, 6)
What are ๐ฅ and y Intercepts
The ๐ฅ intercept is the coordinate where a graph touches or crosses through the ๐ฅ-axis. It has a y coordinate of 0. The y intercept is the coordinate where a graph touches or crosses the y-axis. It has an ๐ฅ coordinate of 0.
The y-axis is the vertical axis that passes through the centre of the cartesian axes from bottom to top. It is marked with numbers known as y coordinates.
The ๐ฅ-axis is the horizontal axis that passes through the centre of the cartesian axes from left to right. It is marked with numbers known as ๐ฅ coordinates.
![How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (2) How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (2)](https://i0.wp.com/mathsathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/what-are-x-and-y-intercepts-1024x577.png)
The y-axis intercept always has an ๐ฅ coordinate of 0. In the example shown above, the y intercept is (0, 5) because it passes through the y-axis at y = 5.
The ๐ฅ-axis intercept always has a y coordinate of 0. In the example shown above, the ๐ฅ intercept is (8, 0) because it passes through the ๐ฅ-axis at ๐ฅ = 8.
![How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (3) How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (3)](https://i0.wp.com/mathsathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/x-and-y-acis-intercepts-of-a-parabola-1024x579.png)
A function can only have one y-axis intercept. This is because a function can only have at most one output for any given input. When ๐ฅ = 0, a function can only have one output which is the y intercept value. The number of ๐ฅ-axis intercepts depends on the type of equation.
For example, in the quadratic equation shown above, there is only one y intercept at (0, 4), however, there are two ๐ฅ intercepts found at (1, 0) and (7, 0). There are two ๐ฅ-axis intercepts in a quadratic equation.
A relation can have an infinite number of ๐ฅ or y intercepts depending on the equation of the relation. For example, a circle equation can have 0, 1 or up to 2 ๐ฅ-axis and y-axis intercepts.
![How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (4) How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (4)](https://i0.wp.com/mathsathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/x-and-y-intercepts-of-a-circle-1024x578.png)
On the circle shown above, the y intercepts are marked at (0, -3) and (0, 5).
The ๐ฅ intercepts are marked at (-8, 0) and (2,0).
y intercepts always take the form (k, 0). They always have an ๐ฅ coordinate of 0.
๐ฅ intercepts always take the form (0, k). They always have a y coordinate of 0.
How to Graph A Line using x and y Intercepts
To graph a line using x and y intercepts:
- Substitute ๐ฅ=0 into the equation to find the y-intercept.
- Substitute y=0 into the equation to find the ๐ฅ-intercept.
- Connect these two intercepts with a straight line.
For example, graph the linear function of y โ 4๐ฅ = 8.
Step 1. Substitute ๐ฅ = 0 into the equation to find the y-intercept
When ๐ฅ = 0, the equation y โ 4๐ฅ = 8 becomes y = 8.
The y-intercept is therefore (0, 8)
Step 2. Substitute y = 0 into the equation to find the ๐ฅ-intercept
When y = 0, the equation y โ 4๐ฅ = 8 becomes -4๐ฅ = 8.
Dividing both sides by -4, we get ๐ฅ = -2.
The ๐ฅ-intercept is therefore (-2, 0)
![How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (5) How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (5)](https://i0.wp.com/mathsathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/finding-the-x-and-y-intercepts-of-a-line-in-standard-form-1024x579.png)
Step 3. Connect these two intercepts with a straight line
The two intercepts are plotted at (-2, 0) and (0, 8).
A straight line is then drawn between these two points to complete the graph.
![How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (6) How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (6)](https://i0.wp.com/mathsathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/graphing-a-straight-line-in-standard-form-1024x580.png)
For example, the equation 3y + 3๐ฅ =6 is written in standard form. Find the ๐ฅ and y intercepts.
Here A = 3, B = 3 and C = 6.
Setting ๐ฅ = 0, the equation 3y + 3๐ฅ = 6 becomes 3y = 6 and so the y-intercept is y = 2.
The coordinate of the y intercept is (0, 2).
We can see that C/B becomes 6/3 which equals 2.
Setting y = 0, the equation 3y + 3๐ฅ = 6 becomes 3๐ฅ = 6 and so, the ๐ฅ-intercept is ๐ฅ = 2.
The coordinate of the ๐ฅ intercept is (2, 0)
We can see that C/A becomes 6/3 which equals 2.
![How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (7) How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (7)](https://i0.wp.com/mathsathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/finding-the-x-and-y-intercepts-of-a-standard-from-equation-1024x580.png)
This standard form equation can now be graphed by plotting these two intercept coordinates and drawing a line between them.
![How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (8) How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (8)](https://i0.wp.com/mathsathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/graphing-a-standard-form-equation-1024x578.png)
If the ๐ฅ and y axis intercepts are the same, the line has a gradient of -1. For every one unit right, the line travels one unit down.
Finding the ๐ฅ and y Intercepts with Fractions
To find the ๐ฅ intercept, substitute y=0 into the equation and solve for ๐ฅ. To find the y intercept, substitute ๐ฅ = 0 into the equation and solve for y. If there is a fraction following the substitution, multiply each term by the denominator and divide each term by the numerator to solve it.
For example, find the ๐ฅ and y intercepts of .
To find the ๐ฅ intercept, substitute y = 0 and solve for ๐ฅ.
This results in . Since there is a fraction, multiply by the denominator and then divide by the numerator.
Multiplying both sides of the equation by 3, the equation becomes 2๐ฅ = 12.
Then dividing both sides of the equation by 2, ๐ฅ = 6.
Therefore the ๐ฅ intercept is found at (6, 0).
To find the y intercept, substitute ๐ฅ = 0 and solve for y.
This results in . To find the intercept of this fractional equation, multiply both sides of the equation by the denominator of 2.
This results in 2y = 8.
Therefore the y intercept of this equation is (0, 8).
![How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (12) How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (12)](https://i0.wp.com/mathsathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/x-and-y-intercepts-with-fractions-1024x580.png)
The line can be graphed by plotting the intercepts and drawing a line between them,
![How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (13) How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (13)](https://i0.wp.com/mathsathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/graphing-a-line-containing-fractions-1024x581.png)
How to Find ๐ฅ and y Intercepts for a Linear Function
A linear equation is written in the form y = mx + b. b is the constant term and is the value of the y-intercept. The x-intercept is the value of x when y = 0. For a linear function, the x-intercept is equal to -b/m. For example, y = 2x โ 6 has a y-intercept of -6 and an x-intercept of 3.
In linear equations of the form, y = m๐ฅ + b, the value of m is the coefficient of ๐ฅ and b is the constant term. This means that m is the value ๐ฅ is multiplied by and b is the number on its own.
When written in slope-intercept form, the equation of a straight line is y = m๐ฅ + b.
To find the ๐ฅ intercept, set y = 0 and solve for x.
y = m๐ฅ + b becomes 0 = m๐ฅ + b.
We can rearrange this for ๐ฅ to get ๐ฅ = -b/m.
To find the y intercept, substitute ๐ฅ = 0 and solve for y.
y = m๐ฅ + b becomes y = b.
![How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (14) How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (14)](https://i0.wp.com/mathsathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/x-and-y-intercepts-for-slope-intercept-form-1024x578.png)
For example, in the equation y = 2๐ฅ โ 6, m = 2 and b = -6.
Therefore the y-axis intercept is b, which is -6. The y intercept is at (0, -6).
The ๐ฅ-axis intercept is -b/m, which is 6/2 which is 3. The ๐ฅ intercept is at (3, 0).
![How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (15) How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (15)](https://i0.wp.com/mathsathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/example-of-finding-the-x-and-y-intercepts-of-a-linear-equation-1024x577.png)
The same results for the ๐ฅ and y intercepts can be found by substituting y = 0 and ๐ฅ = 0 respectively into the equation y = 2๐ฅ โ 6.
![How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (16) How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (16)](https://i0.wp.com/mathsathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/x-and-y-intercepts-for-a-linear-function-1024x577.png)
Finding ๐ฅ and y Intercepts for Rational Functions
To find the x-axis intercept of a rational function, substitute y = 0 and solve for x. The x-axis intercept is therefore found when the numerator of the rational function equals zero. The y-axis intercept is found by substituting x = 0 into the function and evaluating the result.
For example, find the ๐ฅ and y intercepts for .
To find the ๐ฅ-axis intercept, set y = 0.
becomes
.
We can multiply both sides of the equation by ๐ฅ + 1 to get . We can skip to this part of the solution when we are finding the ๐ฅ intercept of a rational function.
Simply set the numerator equal to zero.
Therefore 0 = (๐ฅ+2)(๐ฅ-2).
Setting each bracket equal to zero, the solutions become ๐ฅ = -2 and ๐ฅ = 2.
The ๐ฅ-intercepts are (-2, 0) and (2, 0).
![How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (21) How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (21)](https://i0.wp.com/mathsathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/x-and-y-intercepts-of-rational-functions-1024x580.png)
To find the y-axis intercept, substitute ๐ฅ = 0 into the function.
becomes
which becomes
.
y = -4 and so, the y-axis intercept is (0, -4).
![How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (25) How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (25)](https://i0.wp.com/mathsathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/graphing-a-rational-function-using-x-and-y-intercepts-1024x580.png)
Finding ๐ฅ and y Intercepts for a Parabola
A parabola of the form y = ax2 + bx + c has only one y-axis intercept at (0, c). The parabola can have up to two x-axis intercepts which are its roots or zeros. To find the x-axis intercepts, set y = 0 and solve the quadratic equation using the quadratic formula or by factorisation.
For example, find the ๐ฅ and y intercepts of y = ๐ฅ2 โ 8x + 7.
The y-intercept can be found by substituting ๐ฅ = 0 into the equation. This results in y = 7.
More simply, the y-intercept is at (0, c). In the equation y = ๐ฅ2 โ 8x + 7, the value of c is 7. Therefore the y-axis intercept is at (0, 7).
To find the ๐ฅ-axis intercepts, we set y = 0 and solve for ๐ฅ.
y = ๐ฅ2 โ 8x + 7 becomes 0 = ๐ฅ2 โ 8x + 7. We can factorise the equation to get (๐ฅ โ 1)(๐ฅ โ 7) = 0.
Therefore, setting each bracket to equal 0, the solutions are ๐ฅ = 1 and ๐ฅ = 7. Therefore the ๐ฅ-axis intercepts are at (1, 0) and (7,0).
![How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (26) How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (26)](https://i0.wp.com/mathsathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/x-and-y-intercepts-of-a-parabola-1024x581.png)
The quadratic formula can be used to find the ๐ฅ-axis intercepts of any parabola.
The quadratic formula tells us that . This means that the first ๐ฅ-axis intercept is found at
and the second ๐ฅ-axis intercept is found at
.
For the equation y = ๐ฅ2 โ 8x + 7: a = 1, b = -8 and c = 7.
The quadratic formula, becomes
, which simplifies to
, which results in ๐ฅ = 1 and ๐ฅ = 7.
For any quadratic function, the axis of symmetry is found exactly in between the ๐ฅ-axis intercepts. To find the axis of symmetry using the ๐ฅ-intercepts, simply add the ๐ฅ coordinates of each ๐ฅ-axis intercept and then divide this result by 2.
The two ๐ฅ intercepts are at ๐ฅ = 1 and ๐ฅ = 7. Adding 1 and 7 and then dividing by 2 gives us ๐ฅ = 4.
The equation of the axis of symmetry is ๐ฅ = 4.
![How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (33) How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (33)](https://i0.wp.com/mathsathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/finding-the-axis-of-symmetry-from-the-x-intercepts-1024x579.png)
The vertex is the turning point of a quadratic graph. The vertex of any quadratic, a๐ฅ2 + b๐ฅ + c lies on its axis of symmetry.
Therefore the ๐ฅ coordinate of the vertex is always exactly halfway between the two ๐ฅ-axis intercepts of the quadratic at . The y coordinate of the vertex can then be found by substituting this value of ๐ฅ into the original quadratic function.
For the equation, y = ๐ฅ2 โ 8x + 7, the equation for the ๐ฅ coordinate of the vertex becomes
. This equals ๐ฅ = 4.
This means that the ๐ฅ coordinate of the vertex is 4.
To find the y coordinate of the vertex, simply substitute the ๐ฅ coordinate of the vertex into the original quadratic equation.
๐ฅ2 โ 8x + 7 is equal to -9 when ๐ฅ = 4.
Therefore the coordinates of the vertex are (4, -9).
Finding ๐ฅ and y Intercepts for a Circle
To find the x-intercepts of a circle, substitute y = 0 and solve the resulting quadratic for x. To find the y-intercepts of a circle, substitute x = 0 and solve the resulting quadratic for y. A circle may have 0, 1 or 2 x-axis or y-axis intercepts depending on the number of solutions to the quadratic.
For example, find the ๐ฅ and y intercepts of (๐ฅ+3)2 + (y-1)2 = 25.
To find the ๐ฅ intercept, substitute y = 0 to get (๐ฅ+3)2 + (0-1)2 = 25.
This becomes (๐ฅ+3)(๐ฅ+3) + (-1)2 = 25.
Expanding this, we get ๐ฅ2 + 6๐ฅ + 9 + 1 = 25. We set a quadratic equation equal to zero to solve it.
We get ๐ฅ2 + 6๐ฅ โ 15 = 0. This cannot be factorised but solving this with the quadratic formula we get ๐ฅ = -7.90 or ๐ฅ = 1.90.
![How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (37) How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (37)](https://i0.wp.com/mathsathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/finding-the-x-and-y-intercepts-of-a-circle-1024x579.png)
To find the y intercepts of a circle, set ๐ฅ = 0 and solve the resulting quadratic equation for y.
(๐ฅ+3)2 + (y-1)2 = 25 becomes (0+3)2 + (y-1)2 = 25.
This becomes (3)2 + (y-1)(y-1) = 25 which can be expanded to get 9 + y2 โ 2y + 1 = 25.
Setting this quadratic equation equal to zero, we get y2 โ 2y โ 15 = 0.
This can be factorised to get (y-5)(y+3) = 0, which gives us the solutions of y =5 or y = -3.
These ๐ฅ and y intercepts are shown on the graph of the circle below.
![How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (38) How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (38)](https://i0.wp.com/mathsathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/x-and-y-intercepts-of-a-circle-1-1024x578.png)
๐ฅ and y Intercepts From a Table
A table of x and y values make up pairs of coordinates. The x-intercept is found from the row in the table with a y coordinate of 0. The y-intercept is found from the row in the table with an x coordinate of 0.
The table below shows the table of coordinates formed from the function y = 2๐ฅ โ 4.
The y-axis intercept is seen to be (0, -4). This is the only pair of coordinates that have an ๐ฅ value of 0.
The ๐ฅ-axis intercept is seen to be (2, 0). This is the only pair of coordinates that have a y value of 0.
![How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (39) How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (39)](https://i0.wp.com/mathsathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/how-to-find-x-and-y-axis-intercepts-from-a-table-1024x578.png)
How to Find the x and y Intercepts from 2 Points
To find the x and y intercepts from 2 points, first find the equation of the line. The x intercept can be found by substituting y = 0 into the equation of the line. The y intercept can be found by substituting x = 0 into the equation of the line.
Finding the y Intercept From 2 Points
To find the y intercept from 2 points:
- Find the gradient of the line by dividing the difference in the y coordinates by the difference in x coordinates.
- Substitute this gradient, m into the equation y=mx+c along with the x and y values of one of the coordinates.
- Use these values to work out c, which is the value of the y-intercept.
For example, find the y intercept of the line passing through (2, 3) and (4, 9).
Step 1. Find the gradient by dividing the change in y coordinates by the change in x coordinates.
Between the y coordinates of 3 and 9 there is a change of +6.
Between the x coordinates of 2 and 4 there is a change of +2.
6 รท 2 = 3 and so the gradient = 3.
Step 2. Substitute the gradient, m into the equation y = mx + c along with the x and y values of one of the coordinates.
We call the gradient m. Therefore as calculated in step 1, m = 3.
We now select the x and y values from either coordinate. We will choose (2, 3) so x = 2 and y = 3.
Substituting m = 3, x = 2 and y = 3 into y = mx + c,
we get 3 = 6 + c.
Step 3. Use these values to work out c, the y-intercept.
Since 3 = 6 + c, the value of c = -3.
Therefore the y intercept is y = -3.
The y-intercept is (0, -3).
![How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (40) How to Find x and y Axis Intercepts โ mathsathome.com (40)](https://i0.wp.com/mathsathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/finding-the-x-and-y-intercept-from-2-points-1024x579.png)
Finding the x Intercept from 2 Points
To find the x intercept from 2 points:
- Find the equation of the line using the two points.
- Substitute y=0 into the equation of the line.
- Solve the resulting equation for x.
Step 1. Find the equation of the line using the 2 points.
As seen in the steps above, the equation of the line is y = 3x โ 3.
Step 2. Substitute y=0 into the equation of the line.
y = 3x โ 3 becomes 0 = 3x โ 3.
Step 3. Solve the resulting equation for x.
0 = 3x โ 3 can be solved by adding 3 to both sides.
3 = 3x
We divide both sides by 3 to get x = 1.
The x intercept is found at (1, 0).