Final answer:
To determine the x-intercept of the straight line with a gradient of ½, the equation y = ½x - 4 is used. Setting y to 0 and solving for x gives an x-intercept of (8, 0).
Step-by-step explanation:
The student asks for the x-intercept of a straight line with a gradient of ½ that passes through the point (0,-4). To find the x-intercept, we can use the equation of the line in slope-intercept form, which is y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept.
The slope (gradient) is ½ and the line passes through (0, -4), so the y-intercept is -4. Therefore, the equation of the line is y = ½x - 4.
To find the x-intercept, we set y to 0 and solve for x:
0 = ½x - 4
½x = 4
x = 8
Therefore, the x-intercept of the straight line RS is at the point (8, 0).