Final answer:
The y-intercept, in this case (0, 27.42), signifies the value of y when x is zero and is where the line crosses the y-axis on the graph. It should not be confused with the slope or maximum value of y.
Step-by-step explanation:
The y-intercept of a mathematical equation represents the value of y when x equals zero. Specifically, in the equation of a straight line given by y = mx + b, the b represents the y-intercept, which is the point where the line crosses the y-axis. Referring to the y-intercept (0, 27.42), it indicates that when x is 0, the value of y is 27.42. This point is where the plot line begins on the y-axis in a graph.
The correct interpretation of the y-intercept (0, 27.42) in a mathematical context is that it represents the value of y when x is equal to zero. It is not the slope, the maximum value of y, or the value of y when x equals zero. The slope, represented by the letter 'm' in the equation, describes the rate of change in y for each one-unit increase in the independent variable x.