Intercept Form
How to write and graph a linear equation in intercept form: formula, 2 examples, and their solutions.
Formula
The linear equation in intercept form is
x/a + y/b = 1.
a: x-intercept of the line
b: y-intercept of the line
Examplex-intercept: -3, y-intercept: 2
The x-intercept is -3.
And the y-intercept is 2.
Then the linear equation in intercept form is
x/(-3) + y/2 = 1.
Change the linear equation to slope-intercept form.
Move x/(-3) to the right side.
Then y/2 = x/3 + 1.
Multiply 2 to both sides.
Then y = (2/3)x + 2.
So
y = (2/3)x + 2
is the answer.
This is the graph of the linear equation
x/(-3) + y/2 = 1.
The x-intercept is -3.
And the y-intercept is 2.
ExampleGraph x/5 + y/(-4) = 1
To see the y-intercept clearly,
change -y/4 to +y/(-4).
Then x/5 + y/(-4) = 1.
This is in intercept form.
The x-intercept is 5.
And the y-intercept is -4.
See x/5 + y/(-4) = 1.
The x-intercept is 5.
So point the x-intercept 5
on the coordinate plane.
The y-intercept is -4.
So point the y-intercept -4
on the coordinate plane.
Draw a line that passes through
the x-intercept and the y-intercept.
This is the graph of the linear equation
x/5 + y/(-4) = 1.