The Algebra Teacher\'s Guide to Reteaching Essential Concepts and Skills

Name Date

WORKSHEET 4.10: USING THEX-INTERCEPT AND THE

Y-INTERCEPT TO GRAPH A LINEAR EQUATION

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Graphs can be created in various ways. One way to create a graph is to use thex-intercept

and they-intercept.

EXAMPLE

To find thex-intercept ofx+ 2 y=6: To find they-intercept ofx+ 2 y=6:

Replaceywith 0 and solve forx.Replacexwith 0 and solve fory.

x+2(0)= 60 + 2 y= 6

x= 62 y= 6

Thex-intercept is 6. y= 3

This represents the ordered pair (6, 0). They-intercept is 3.

This represents the ordered pair (0, 3).

DIRECTIONS: Find the intercepts of each equation. Then use the intercepts to graph the

equation.

1. 2 x+ 4 y= 8 2. x+ 3 y= 6


2. y− 2 x= 10 4. 5 x−y= 15


3. 2 x+ 6 y= 18 6. 5 y− 5 x= 25

7.− 10 x− 20 y= 60 8.

1

2

x+ 4 y= 8

CHALLENGE:Marcus said that some lines will not have both anx-intercept

andy-intercept. Do you agree with him? If you do, give an example of when

this could be true.

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2011 by Judith A. Muschla, Gary Robert Muschla, and Erin Muschla. All rights reserved.