Finding Axis Intercepts

Finding Axis Intercepts from an Equation
Words to remember
Coordinate pair The coordinates of a point written in a set of brackets.

E.g. for a point with an x-coordinate of 3 and a y-coordinate of 5, the
coordinate pair is (3, 5).
y-intercept The point where a line crosses the y-axis.

E.g. for a line that crosses the y-axis at 3, the y-intercept is 3 and the
coordinates of the y-intercept are (0, 3).
x -intercept The point where a line crosses the x-axis.

E.g. for a line that crosses the x-axis at −2, the x-intercept is −2 and the
coordinates of the x-intercept are (−2, 0).
Substitute Replacing a pronumeral in an expression with a given value.

E.g. substituting a = 3 into the expression a + 1 gives 3 + 1
This module is about finding the x and y intercepts from an equation.

We already know how to find the x and y intercepts from a graph.
We can use this thinking to explore how to find the intercepts from the equation of a line.
Questions
1. Here is a graph of y = −2x + 6. The y-intercept is at (0, 6).
a) Copy and complete:

The y-intercept is where x = .
Copyright © Maths Pathway 2022. Reproduction for classroom use permitted. Page 1 of 25
b) Let’s use the equation of the line, y = −2x + 6, to check that the coordinates of the y-intercept
are (0, 6).
i) Start by copying the equation: ii) We know that the y-intercept is where x = 0.
y = −2x + 6 So, to find the y-intercept, copy the second
line of working and substitute x = 0 into the
equation.
y = −2x + 6
y = −2( ) + 6
iii) Simplify the right hand side (RHS) of the iv) Use your answer from iii) to write the y-
equation to find the value of y when x = 0. intercept as a coordinate pair:
y-int: ( , )
Finding the y-intercept
The y-intercept is the point on the graph where x = 0.

To find the y-intercept from an equation, substitute x = 0 into the equation.
Then, solve to find the value of y.
2. For each equation we will find the coordinates of the y-intercept.
a) y = 3 − 2x
i) Substitute x = 0 to find the y-intercept. ii) Use i) to write the y-intercept as a coordinate
pair.
b) y = 5 + 3x
pair.
c) y = −x + 7
pair.
3. Here is a graph of y = −2x + 6. The x-intercept is at (3, 0).

The x-intercept is when y = .
b) Let’s use the equation of the line, y = −2x + 6, to check that the x-intercept is at (3, 0).
i) Start by copying the equation: ii) We know that the x-intercept is when y = 0.
y = −2x + 6 So, to find the x-intercept, copy the second
line of working and substitute y = 0 into the
equation.
y = −2x + 6
= −2x + 6
iii) Finish solving the equation to find the value iv) Use your answer from iii) to write the x-
of x when y = 0. intercept as a coordinate pair:
x -int: ( , )
Finding the x-intercept
The x-intercept is the point on the graph where y = 0.

To find the x-intercept from an equation, substitute y = 0 into the equation.
Then, solve to find the value of x.
4. For each equation we will find the coordinates of the x-intercept.
a) y = 2x − 8
i) Substitute y = 0 to find the x-intercept. ii) Use i) to write the x-intercept as a coordinate
pair.
b) y = 20 − 4x
pair.
c) y = −8x − 16
pair.
5. We are going to find both the x and y intercepts for the equation y = 4 − 2x.
We will use line-by line working, and set out our work with headings, to keep track of our thinking.
a) First we will find the y-intercept.

i) Copy the heading into your book. ii) Substitute x = 0 and simplify the RHS to find
Note: You can write y-intercept as y-int. the y-intercept.
iii) Write the y-intercept as a coordinate pair.
b) Now, we will find the x-intercept.

i) Copy the heading into your book. ii) Substitute y = 0 and solve to find the x-
Note: You can write x-intercept as x-int. intercept.
iii) Write the x-intercept as a coordinate pair.
6. We are going to find the x and y intercepts for the line with equation:
x
y = + 4 .
2

i) Copy the heading and substitute x = 0 into ii) Simplify the RHS to find the coordinates of
the equation. the y-intercept.

i) Copy the heading and substitute y = 0 into the ii) Solve the equation to find the coordinates of
equation. the x-intercept.
Note: Write this to the right of your working
out for the y-int if you have space.
7. Now we are going to find the x and y intercepts for the line with equation:
2y = 10 − 8x .

i) Copy the heading and substitute x = 0 into ii) Simplify the RHS and solve the equation to
the equation. find the coordinates of the y-intercept.


i) Copy the heading and substitute y = 0 into the ii) Simplify the LHS and solve the equation to
equation. find the coordinates of the x-intercept.
8. For each equation, copy and complete the working out to find the coordinates of the x and y
intercepts of the line.
a) y = 6x − 3
b) 4y = 8 − 2x
x
c) y = − 4
4
9. Tyson got the following question wrong on his test.
a) What mistake did Tyson make in the answer? b) Write the correct coordinates of the x and y
A. The x and y intercept are written the wrong intercepts for the equation y = 3x − 9.
way around.
B. The values of the x and y intercepts have
been combined into one coordinate pair.
10. Find the coordinates of the x and y intercepts for the following equations.
The first one has been done for you.
x
a) y = −20 − 4x b) y = − 6
3
y-int, x = 0 x-int, y = 0
–
–
y = −20 − 4(0) 0 = −20 − 4x
y = −20 − 0 0 + 20 = −20 + 20 − 4x
y = −20 20 = −4x
(0, −20) 20 −4x

=
−4 −4
−5 = x
(−5, 0)
c) y = 3x d) 5y = 40 − 10x
x
e) y = 5 − f) 3y = 2x + 12
2
11. Vera is working out the coordinates of the y-intercept for the line with equation 5y = 10 − 2x.
Is Vera correct? Check by substituting x = 0 into the equation.
12.
a) For the equation: b) For the equation:
y = x − 2 2y = 12 − 4x
The coordinate of the x-intercept is: The coordinate of the y-intercept is:
A. (−2, 0) A. (0, 6)
B. (2, 0) B. (3, 0)
C. (0, 2) C. (6, 0)
D. (0, −2) D. (0, 12)

c) For the equation: d) For the equation:

x
y = −3 − 8x − 2y = 4
5
The coordinate of the y-intercept is:
The coordinate of the x-intercept is:
A. (0, −2)
A. (0, −15)
B. (−2, 0)
B. (0, −3)
C. (0, 2)
C. (15, 0)
D. (2, 0)
D. (−15, 0)
Answers
1. Here is a graph of y = −2x + 6. The y-intercept is at (0, 6).

The y-intercept is where x = 0.

The y-intercept is the point where the line crosses the y-axis.
The value of x on the y-axis is 0.
b) Let’s use the equation of the line, y = −2x + 6, to check that the coordinates of the y-intercept
are (0, 6).
i) Start by copying the equation: ii) We know that the y-intercept is where x = 0.
y = −2x + 6 So, to find the y-intercept, copy the second
line of working and substitute x = 0 into the
equation.
y = −2x + 6
y = −2(0) + 6
iii) Simplify the right hand side (RHS) of the iv) Use your answer from iii) to write the y-
equation to find the value of y when x = 0. intercept as a coordinate pair:
y = −2x + 6 y -int: (0, 6)
y = −2(0) + 6
y = 0 + 6
When x = 0, y = 6 .
y = 6

2. For each equation we will find the coordinates of the y-intercept.
a) y = 3 − 2x
y = 3 − 2(0)
pair.
(0, 3)
y = 3 − 0
↑
y = 3
when x = 0, y = 3
b) y = 5 + 3x
y = 5 + 3(0)
pair.
(0, 5)
y = 5 + 0
↑
y = 5
when x = 0, y = 5
c) y = −x + 7
y = −(0) + 7
pair.
(0, 7)
y = 0 + 7
↑
y = 7
when x = 0, y = 7
3. Here is a graph of y = −2x + 6. The x-intercept is at (3, 0).

The x-intercept is when y = 0.

The x-intercept is the point where the line crosses the x-axis.
The value of y on the x-axis is 0.
b) Let’s use the equation of the line, y = −2x + 6, to check that the x-intercept is at (3, 0).
i) Start by copying the equation: ii) We know that the x-intercept is when y = 0.
y = −2x + 6 So, to find the x-intercept, copy the second
line of working and substitute y = 0 into the
equation.
y = −2x + 6
0 = −2x + 6
iii) Finish solving the equation to find the value iv) Use your answer from iii) to write the x-
of x when y = 0. intercept as a coordinate pair:
y = −2x + 6 x -int: (3, 0)
0 = −2x + 6
0 − 6 = −2x + 6 − 6
When y = 0, x = 3.
−6 = −2x
−6 −2x
=
−2 −2
3 = x
−6
Note: You could have written as
−2
−6 ÷ −2.
4. For each equation we will find the coordinates of the x-intercept.
a) y = 2x − 8
(0) = 2x − 8
pair.
(4, 0)
0 + 8 = 2x − 8 + 8
↑
8 = 2x
when y = 0, x = 4
8 2x
=
2 2
4 = x
b) y = 20 − 4x
(0) = 20 − 4x
pair.
(5, 0)
0 − 20 = 20 − 4x − 20
↑
−20 = −4x
when y = 0, x = 5
−20 −4x
=
−4 −4
5 = x
c) y = −8x − 16
(0) = −8x − 16
pair.
( − 2, 0)
0 + 16 = −8x − 16 + 16
↑
16 = −8x
when y = 0, x = −2
16 −8x
=
−8 −8
−2 = x
5. We are going to find both the x and y intercepts for the equation y = 4 − 2x.
We will use line-by line working, and set out our work with headings, to keep track of our thinking.
i) Copy the heading into your book. ii) Substitute x = 0 and simplify the RHS to find
Note: You can write y-intercept as y-int. the y-intercept.
iii) Write the y-intercept as a coordinate pair.
i) Copy the heading into your book. ii) Substitute y = 0 and solve to find the x-
Note: You can write x-intercept as x-int. intercept.
iii) Write the x-intercept as a coordinate pair.
6. We are going to find the x and y intercepts for the line with equation:
x
y = + 4 .
2
i) Copy the heading and substitute x = 0 into ii) Simplify the RHS to find the coordinates of
the equation. the y-intercept.
Remember: when the numerator of a

fraction is 0, the fraction is equal to 0.
i) Copy the heading and substitute y = 0 into the ii) Solve the equation to find the coordinates of
equation. the x-intercept.
Note: Write this to the right of your working
out for the y-int if you have space.
7. Now we are going to find the x and y intercepts for the line with equation:
2y = 10 − 8x .
i) Copy the heading and substitute x = 0 into ii) Simplify the RHS and solve the equation to
the equation. find the coordinates of the y-intercept.
i) Copy the heading and substitute y = 0 into the ii) Simplify the LHS and solve the equation to
equation. find the coordinates of the x-intercept.
8. For each equation, copy and complete the working out to find the coordinates of the x and y
intercepts of the line.
a) y = 6x − 3
b) 4y = 8 − 2x
c)
x
y = − 4
4
9. Tyson got the following question wrong on his test.
a) What mistake did Tyson make in the answer? b) Write the correct coordinates of the x and y
A. The x and y intercept are written the wrong intercepts for the equation y = 3x − 9.
way around. x -intercept: (3, 0)
B. The values of the x and y intercepts y -intercept: (0, −9)
have been combined into one coordinate
pair.

The x-intercept and the y-intercept should
be written as separate coordinate pairs.
10. Find the coordinates of the x and y intercepts for the following equations.
The first one has been done for you.
x
a) y = −20 − 4x b) y = − 6
3
–
–
–
–
y = −20 − 4(0) 0 = −20 − 4x
0 x
y = − 6 0 = − 6
y = −20 − 0 0 + 20 = −20 + 20 − 4x
3 3
y = −20 20 = −4x x
y = 0 − 6 0 + 6 = − 6 + 6
20 −4x 3
(0, −20) y = −6
= x
−4 −4 6 =
(0, −6) 3
−5 = x x
6 × 3 = × 3
(−5, 0) 3
18 = x

(18, 0)
c) y = 3x d) 5y = 40 − 10x
y-int, x = 0 x-int, y = 0 y-int, x = 0 x-int, y = 0

–
–
–
–
y = 3(0) 0 = 3x 5y = 40 − 10(0) 5(0) = 40 − 10x
y = 0 0 3x 5y = 40 − 0 0 = 40 − 10x
=
(0, 0) 3 3 5y = 40 0 − 40 = 40 − 40 − 10x
0 = x 5y 40 −40 = −10x
=
(0, 0) 5 5 −40 −10x
=
y = 8 −10 −10
Note: Lines that pass through the origin
(0, 0) have the same x and y intercept.
(0, 8) 4 = x
(4, 0)
x
e) y = 5 − f) 3y = 2x + 12
2
y-int, x = 0
–
– x-int, y = 0
–
–
x 3y = 2(0) + 12 3(0) = 2x + 12
0
y = 5 − 0 = 5 −
2 2 3y = 0 + 12 0 = 2x + 12
x
y = 5 − 0 0 − 5 = 5 − 5 − 3y = 12 0 − 12 = 2x + 12 − 12
2
y = 5 3y 12 −12 = 2x
x =
−5 = −
(0, 5) 3 3 −12 2x
2
=
x y = 4 2 2
−5 × 2 = − × 2
2 (0, 4) −6 = x
−10 = −x
(−6, 0)
−10 −x
=
−1 −1
10 = x
(10, 0)
11. Vera is working out the coordinates of the y-intercept for the line with equation 5y = 10 − 2x.
Is Vera correct? Check by substituting x = 0 into the equation.

5y = 10 − 2(0)
5y = 10 − 0
5y = 10
5y 10
=
5 5
y = 2
(0, 2)
Vera is incorrect.
The y-intercept is (0, 2).
The constant term is not always the y-intercept; especially when the equation is not
written in the form y = mx + c.
We can always substitute x = 0 to find the correct y-intercept.
12.
a) For the equation: b) For the equation:
y = x − 2 2y = 12 − 4x
The coordinate of the x-intercept is: The coordinate of the y-intercept is:
A. (−2, 0) A. (0, 6)
B. (2, 0) B. (3, 0)
C. (0, 2) C. (6, 0)
D. (0, −2) D. (0, 12)

x-int, y = 0 y-int, x = 0
–
–
0 = x − 2 2y = 12 − 4(0)
0 + 2 = x − 2 + 2 2y = 12 − 0
2 = x 2y = 12
When y = 0, x = 2 2y
=
12
2 2

y = 6
When x = 0, y = 6
c) For the equation: d) For the equation:

x
y = −3 − 8x − 2y = 4
5
The coordinate of the y-intercept is:
The coordinate of the x-intercept is:
A. (0, −2)
A. (0, −15)
B. (−2, 0)
B. (0, −3)
C. (0, 2)
C. (15, 0)
D. (2, 0)
D. (−15, 0)

y-int, x = 0
–
x-int, y = 0
–
8(0) − 2y = 4
x
0 = −3 −
0 − 2y = 4
5
x −2y = 4
0 + 3 = −3 + 3 −
5 −2y 4
x =
3 = − −2 −2
5
y = −2
x
3 × 5 = − × 5
5 When x = 0, y = −2
15 = −x
15 −x
=
−1 −1
−15 = x
When y = 0, x = −15

Finding Axis Intercepts

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Finding Axis Intercepts

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Finding Axis Intercepts from an Equation

Coordinate pair The coordinates of a point written in a set of brackets.

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

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

Substitute Replacing a pronumeral in an expression with a given value.

This module is about finding the x and y intercepts from an equation.

a) Copy and complete:

Finding the y-intercept

The y-intercept is the point on the graph where x = 0.

2. For each equation we will find the coordinates of the y-intercept.

3. Here is a graph of y = −2x + 6. The x-intercept is at (3, 0).

a) Copy and complete:

Finding the x-intercept

The x-intercept is the point on the graph where y = 0.

4. For each equation we will find the coordinates of the x-intercept.

a) First we will find the y-intercept.

iii) Write the y-intercept as a coordinate pair.

b) Now, we will find the x-intercept.

iii) Write the x-intercept as a coordinate pair.

a) First we will find the y-intercept.

b) Now, we will find the x-intercept.

a) First we will find the y-intercept.

b) Now, we will find the x-intercept.

9. Tyson got the following question wrong on his test.

y = −20 − 4(0) 0 = −20 − 4x

(0, −20) 20 −4x

Is Vera correct? Check by substituting x = 0 into the equation.

c) For the equation: d) For the equation:

a) Copy and complete:

2. For each equation we will find the coordinates of the y-intercept.

3. Here is a graph of y = −2x + 6. The x-intercept is at (3, 0).

a) Copy and complete:

4. For each equation we will find the coordinates of the x-intercept.

a) First we will find the y-intercept.

iii) Write the y-intercept as a coordinate pair.

b) Now, we will find the x-intercept.

iii) Write the x-intercept as a coordinate pair.

a) First we will find the y-intercept.

Remember: when the numerator of a

b) Now, we will find the x-intercept.

a) First we will find the y-intercept.

b) Now, we will find the x-intercept.

9. Tyson got the following question wrong on his test.

y-int, x = 0 x-int, y = 0 y-int, x = 0 x-int, y = 0

y = 3(0) 0 = 3x 5y = 40 − 10(0) 5(0) = 40 − 10x

Is Vera correct? Check by substituting x = 0 into the equation.

c) For the equation: d) For the equation:

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