Question

Why does a y-intercept not count as a zero?

Answer 1

The y-intercept represents the starting value of the relationship when x is zero, but it is not considered a zero itself.

Step-by-step explanation:

The y-intercept, also represented as 'b' in the equation y = mx + b, is the point where the line intersects the y-axis. It indicates the starting value of the relationship when x is zero. However, the y-intercept does not count as a zero because it represents a specific value on the y-axis, rather than being a zero value on the x-axis. For example, if the y-intercept is 5, it means that the line starts at the point (0, 5) on the coordinate plane.

Answer 2

It only counts as a zero when the y-intercept is (0,0).

Step-by-step explanation:

The zeros of a quadratic function are always written as (x,0), while the y-intercept is always written as (0,y). Therefore, in order for a y-intercept to be a zero, it must be (0,0), because the y-coordinate in any zero is 0. At any other time, the y-intercept is not a zero.