The vertical line test can be used to determine whether a graph represents a function. A vertical line includes all points with a particular
x
x
value. The
y
y
value of a point where a vertical line intersects a graph represents an output for that input
x
x
value. If we can draw any vertical line that intersects a graph more than once, then the graph does not define a function because that
x
x
value has more than one output. A function has only one output value for each input value.