Question

What is the x and y intercept for x - 2y = 8?

Answer 1

`x`-intercept: `(8,0)`
`y`-intercept: `(0,-4)`

Explanation:

For a general equation of a line written in point-slope form

`color(blue)(y = mx + b)`

the `x`-intercept can be found by finding the value of `x` that satisfies the condtiion `y=0`, and the `y`-intercept can be found by evaluating the function for `x=0`.

In your case, you have

`x - 2y = 8`

You can rearrange this equation into slope-point form if you want

`-2y = -x + 8`

`y = 1/2x - 4`

So, for the `x`-intercept, you need

`y = 1/2x -4 = 0`

`1/2x = 4 implies x = 8`

The `x`-intercept will thus be `(8, 0)`.

For the `y`-intercept, you substitute `x=0` into the equation

`y = 1/2 * (0) - 4`

`y = -4`

The `y`-intercept will thus be `(0, -4)`.

graph{1/2x - 4 [-14.24, 14.24, -7.12, 7.12]}