How do you find the x and y intercepts for #-3x+4y=8#?

1 Answer
Dec 21, 2015

Substitute in #0# for #x# or #y# to find that there is
an #x#-intercept at #(-8/3, 0)# and
a #y#-intercept at #(0, 2)#

Explanation:

An #x#-intercept of a graph occurs when the graph meets the #x#-axis, that is, at a point where #y = 0#. Similarly, a #y#-intercept occurs where #x = 0#.

To find the #x# and #y# intercepts, then, we simply substitute in #0# for #y# and #x# respectively.

Substituting #0# for #y# gives us

#-3x + 4(0) = 8#

#=> -3x = 8#

#=> x = -8/3#

Thus the #x#-intercept occurs at #(-8/3, 0)#.

Substituting #0# for #x# gives us

#-3(0) + 4y = 8#

#=> 4y = 8#

#=> y = 2#

So the #y#-intercept occurs at #(0, 2)#