How do you find the x and y intercepts of #-5x+10y=20#?

1 Answer
Aug 13, 2017

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

One way to find the #x# and #y#-intercepts is to set one variable equal to #0# and solve for the other variable.

x-intercept:

Set #y = 0# giving:

#-5x + (10 * 0) = 20#

#-5x + 0 = 20#

#-5x = 20#

#(-5x)/color(red)(-5) = 20/color(red)(-5)#

#(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(-5)))x)/cancel(color(red)(-5)) = -4#

#x = -4#

The #x#-intercept is: #-4# or #(-4, 0)#

y-intercept:

Set #x = 0# giving:

#(-5 * 0) + 10y = 20#

#0 + 10y = 20#

#10y = 20#

#(10y)/color(red)(10) = 20/color(red)(10)#

#(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(10)))y)/cancel(color(red)(10)) = 2#

#y = 2#

The #y#-intercept is: #2# or #(0, 2)#