Intercepts

Definitions from dictionary.com:

1. to take, seize, or halt (someone or something on the way from one place to another); cut off from an intended destination: to intercept a messenger.

2. to see or overhear (a message, transmission, etc., meant for another): We intercepted the enemy's battle plan.

3. to stop or check (passage, travel, etc.): to intercept the traitor's escape.

4. Sports . to take possession of (a ball or puck) during an attempted pass by an opposing team.

5. to stop or interrupt the course, progress, or transmission of.

6. to destroy or disperse (enemy aircraft or a missile or missiles) in the air on the way to a target.

7. to stop the natural course of (light, water, etc.).

8. Mathematics . to mark off or include, as between two points or lines.

9. to intersect.

10. Obsolete . to prevent or cut off the operation or effect of.

11. Obsolete . to cut off from access, sight, etc.

–noun

12. an interception.

13. Mathematics .

a. an intercepted segment of a line.

b. (in a coordinate system) the distance from the origin to the point at which a curve or line intersects an axis.

Haha, I'm really starting to like this format. Plus, I learn new definitions every day!

Today we will be looking at the mathematics (you guessed it!) definition, and I will show you a sample problem.


Definition of an intercept for grade nine level math: Where a line (or line segment) intersects (meets) the x or y axis. The point that they meet at (x, 0) or (0, y), is called an intercept.
My friend asked me how to do this question today, so I will share with you too! This is grade nine level.


Sample Problem: Graph the equation of the line 6x-y=18, using the x and y intercepts.

1. First, you must ask yourself what an intercept is.

The X and Y intercepts are Points on the line, where one value (either x or y) is 0.

So at the X intercept, y = 0,  Your point is: (x, 0)

and at the y intercept, x = 0, your point is: (0, y)


2. We want to find out what the values of x and y are.

So we rearrange the equation to isolate for x and y.

For x intercept:

6x = 18 + y

x = (18 + y) / 6

Remember that at the x intercept, y = 0. So sub it in.

x = (18 + 0) / 6
x = 18/6
x = 3

This means that when x is 3, y is 0. Here is our first point: (3, 0).


For y intercept:

6x - y = 18
-y = 18-6x
y = -18 + 6x


Remember, at the y intercept, x = 0. Let's sub it in.

y = -18 + 6 (0)
y = -18

This means that when x is 0, y is -18. Here we have our second point (0, -18).


3. Now that we have two points, we can graph the line. Plot the two points on the graph.

X intecept: (3, 0)
Y intercept: (0, -18)


4. Connect the two dots with a ruler. That's your line!


=) I should be a math teacher! dahahah! Perhaps that'll be my occupation if I can't get any jobs after graduating from engineering. Sounds like fun!

Here is the answer: