Question

A line has a slope of -1/2 and a y-intercept of –2. What is the x-intercept of the line?

Answer 1

x = - 4

Explanation:

The equation of a line in slope- intercept form is

y = mx + c ( m is the slope and c the y- intercept )

Here m = -
`(1)/(2)` and c = - 2, thus

y = -
`(1)/(2)` x - 2 ← equation of line

The x- intercept has a y- coordinate of zero.

Substitute y = 0 into the equation and solve for x

-
`(1)/(2)` x - 2 = 0

Multiply through by 2 to clear the fraction

- x - 4 = 0 ( add 4 to both sides )

- x = 4 ( multiply both sides by - 1 )

x = - 4

Thus the x- intercept is - 4