Final answer:
The y-intercept of the function f(x) = x - 72 + x² is found by evaluating the function at x = 0, which gives us -72. Therefore, the graph intersects the y-axis at the point (0, -72).
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the y-intercept of the function f(x) = x - 72 + x², we need to evaluate the function when x is equal to 0. The y-intercept is the point on the graph where the line or curve intersects the y-axis, which corresponds to x = 0.
Substituting x = 0 into the function, we get:
f(0) = (0) - 72 + (0)² = -72
Therefore, the y-intercept of the function f(x) is -72, which means that the graph of the function crosses the y-axis at the point (0, -72).