Home » Math Vocabluary » Intercept Form – Definition, Equation, Formula, Examples, FAQs
- What Is Intercept Form?
- Intercept Form Formula
- How to Find Intercept Form
- Solved Examples on Intercept Form
- Practice Problems on Intercept Form
- Frequently Asked Questions about Intercept Form
What Is Intercept Form?
The intercept form of a line is a specific representation of the equation of a straight line using its x-intercept and y-intercept. The intercept form is often referred to as the two-intercept form because it involves the x-intercept and y-intercept of the line.
If we have the x-intercept (a, 0) and the y-intercept (0, b) of a line, we can write the equation in the two-intercept form as:
$\frac{x}{a} + \frac{y}{b} = 1$
In this equation:
- ‘a’ represents the x-intercept, which is the value of x when y = 0 (the point where the line intersects the X-axis).
- ‘b’ represents the y-intercept, which is the value of y when x = 0 (the point where the line intersects the Y-axis).
![Intercept Form - Definition, Formula, Graph, Facts, Examples (1) Intercept Form - Definition, Formula, Graph, Facts, Examples (1)](https://i0.wp.com/www.splashlearn.com/math-vocabulary/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/the-x-intercept-and-y-intercept-of-a-line.png)
By observing the coefficients ‘a’ and ‘b’ in the intercept form equation, you can easily determine the x-intercept and y-intercept of the line. The x-intercept is (a, 0), and the Y-intercept is (0, b) which means the line cuts the X-axis at the point (a, 0), and it cuts the Y-axis at the point(0, b).
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Intercept Form: Definition
The two-intercept form of the equation of a straight line that intersects the X-axis at (𝑎,0) and the Y-axis at (0,𝑏) is
$\frac{x}{a} + \frac{y}{b} = 1$
The intercept form allows us to visualize the position of the line and its relationship with the coordinate axes based on the signs of the intercepts.
Related Worksheets
Intercept Form Formula
The intercept form of the equation of a line is given by the formula: $\frac{x}{a} + \frac{y}{b} = 1$
In this formula,
- ‘a’ represents the x-intercept
- ‘b’ represents the y-intercept
The intercept form formula provides a straightforward and concise way to express the equation of a line using its intercepts. By substituting the appropriate values of ‘a’ and ‘b’, you can write the equation of a line in the intercept form.
How to Find Intercept Form
To find the intercept form of the equation of a line, you typically need information about the intercepts of the line, such as the x-intercept and y-intercept.
If you have the x-intercept (a, 0) and the y-intercept (0, b) of the line, you can follow these steps to determine the intercept form:
Step 1: Identify the x-intercept and y-intercept values.
a = x-intercept, b = y-intercept
Step 2: Use the intercept values in the intercept form equation, which is given by
$\frac{x}{a} + \frac{y}{b} = 1$.
Step 3: Substitute ‘a’ for the x-intercept and ‘b’ for the y-intercept in the equation. This gives you the equation in the intercept form.
Example: x-intercept is 4 and the y-intercept is 2. Find the intercept form.
We can substitute these values into the intercept form equation:
$\frac{x}{4} + \frac{y}{2} = 1$
Simplifying further, you can multiply through by the common denominator to eliminate fractions:
$\frac{2x}{8} + \frac{4y}{8} = 1$
Thus, $2x + 4y = 8$
This is the intercept form equation of the line.
Graph of Intercept Form of Equation of a Line
The graph of the intercept form equation $\frac{x}{a} + \frac{y}{b} = 1$ is a straight line that intersects the X-axis at the x-intercept (a, 0) and the Y-axis at the y-intercept (0, b).
The two points are situated on the X-axis and Y-axis, respectively, and are separated by ‘a’ and ‘b’ units from the origin.
The line passes through the point (a, 0) on the X-axis because it has an intercept of ‘a’ units on the X-axis. It passes through the point (0, b) on the Y-axis and makes an intercept of ‘b’ units on the Y-axis.
Intercept form equation: $\frac{x}{a} + \frac{y}{b} = 1$
![Intercept Form - Definition, Formula, Graph, Facts, Examples (23) Intercept Form - Definition, Formula, Graph, Facts, Examples (23)](https://i0.wp.com/www.splashlearn.com/math-vocabulary/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/intercept-form.png)
Derivation of Intercept Form of Equation
The intercept form can be obtained by rearranging and manipulating the equations, which are used in other forms of equations of a line, specifically the two-point form.
Here, we will derive the intercept form of the equation of a line from the two-point form of the equation.
The two-point form of the equation of a line relies on having two points on the line. By using the coordinates of the two given points (a, 0) and (0, b), we can determine the equation of the line passing through them. The equation for this line, which passes through (a, 0) and (0, b) respectively, is as follows:
$y − 0 = \frac{(b − 0)}{(0 − a)} \times (x − a)$
$y = \frac{b}{− a} (x − a)$
$− ay = b(x − a)$
$− ay = bx − ab$
$ab = bx + ay$
$bx + ay = ab$
$\frac{(bx + ay)}{ab} = 1$
$\frac{bx}{ab} + \frac{ay}{ab} = 1$
$\frac{x}{a} + \frac{y}{b} = 1$
Facts about Intercept Form
- The intercept form of the equation of a line is written as $\frac{x}{a} + \frac{y}{b} = 1$, where ‘a’ represents the x-intercept and ‘b’ represents the y-intercept.
- The intercept form equation $\frac{x}{a} + \frac{y}{b} = 1$ has a slope of $\frac{-b}{a}$.
- The x-intercept is the x-coordinate where the line intersects the x-axis, and the y-intercept is the y-coordinate where the line intersects the y-axis.
Conclusion
In this article, we learned about the intercept form of the equation of a line. The intercept form is a representation of the equation of a straight line using its two intercepts. Now, let’s solve some examples and practice problems to understand the concept better!
Solved Examples on Intercept Form
Example 1: Find the equation of a line with an x-intercept of 4 and a y-intercept of –3 in the intercept form.
Solution:
The x-intercept is 4.
a = 4
The y-intercept is − 3.
b = − 3
Using these points, we can set up the intercept form equation:
$\frac{x}{a} + \frac{y}{b} = 1$
Substituting the x-intercept and y-intercept values, we get:
$\frac{x}{4} + \frac{y}{(− 3)} = 1$
On simplifying further, we can write
$3x − 4y = 12$
Example 2:The equation of a line is $\frac{2x}{5} − \frac{3y}{7} = 1$. Find the x-intercept and y-intercept.
Solution:
To find the x-intercept, we set y = 0 and solve for x:
$\frac{2x}{5} − \frac{3(0)}{7} = 1$
$\frac{2x}{5} = 1$
$2x = 5$
$x = \frac{5}{2}$
So, the x-intercept is $(\frac{5}{2},\; 0)$.
To find the y-intercept, we set x = 0 and solve for y:
$\frac{2(0)}{5} − \frac{3y}{7} = 1$
$\frac{− 3y}{7} = 1$
$− 3y = 7$
$y = \frac{− 7}{3}$
So, the y-intercept is $(0,\; \frac{−7}{3})$.
Therefore, the x-intercept is $(\frac{5}{2},\; 0)$ and the y-intercept is $(0,\; \frac{−7}{3})$.
Example 3: Find the equation of a line with the x-intercept at (5, 0) and passing through the point (2, 3) in the intercept form.
Solution:
To find the y-intercept, we can use the x-intercept.
The x-intercept is (5, 0), which means a = 5.
To find the y-intercept, we use the point (2, 3).
We substitute the coordinates (5, 0) into the equation and solve for b:
$\frac{2}{5} + \frac{3}{b} = 1$
$\frac{3}{b} = 1 − \frac{2}{5}$
$\frac{3}{b} = \frac{3}{5}$
$b = 5$
Therefore, the equation of the line in the intercept form is:
$\frac{x}{5} + \frac{y}{5} = 1$
$x + y = 5$
Example 4: Write the equation of the line $y = − 2x + 6$ in the intercept form.
Solution:
The equation of this line has been given in slope–intercept form 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏, where 𝑚 represents the slope of the line and 𝑏 represents the 𝑦-intercept.
We know that the intercept form of the equation of a straight line is $\frac{x}{a} + \frac{y}{b} = 1$
Add 2𝑥 to each side of the equation $y = − 2x + 6$
$y + 2x = − 2x + 6 + 2x$
Thus, $2x + y = 6$
For any equation of a straight line to be in the intercept form, the constant term must be equal to 1.
Divide both sides of the equation by 6.
$\frac{2x}{6} + \frac{y}{6} = 1$
$\frac{x}{3} + \frac{y}{6} = 1$
Thus, the equation of the line $y = −2x + 6$ in the intercept form is $\frac{x}{3} + \frac{y}{6} = 1$
Practice Problems on Intercept Form
1The intercept form of the equation of a line is given by the formula ________.
$x + y = 1$
$\frac{x}{a} + \frac{y}{b} = 1$
$\frac{x}{y} + \frac{a}{b} = 1$
$\frac{x}{a} - \frac{y}{b} = 1$
CorrectIncorrect
Correct answer is: $\frac{x}{a} + \frac{y}{b} = 1$
If the x-intercept is (a, 0) and the y-intercept is (0, b), we can write the equation in the two-intercept form as $\frac{x}{a} + \frac{y}{b} = 1$.
2Which of the following equations represents the intercept form of a line?
$x - y = 1$
$y = 2x + 3$
$2x + 3y = 6$
$\frac{x}{3} + \frac{y}{4} = 1$
CorrectIncorrect
Correct answer is: $\frac{x}{3} + \frac{y}{4} = 1$
The intercept form of the equation of a line is given by $\frac{x}{a} + \frac{y}{b} = 1$, where 'a' represents the
x-intercept and 'b' represents the y-intercept. From the given options, the equation $\frac{x}{3} + \frac{y}{4} = 1$
represents the intercept form with a = 3 and b = 4.
3Consider the equation $\frac{x}{4} + \frac{y}{6} = 1$. Which of the following statements is true?
The x-intercept is 4 and the y-intercept is 6.
The x-intercept is 6 and the y-intercept is 4.
The x-intercept is 1 and the y-intercept is 1.
The x-intercept is 10 and the y-intercept is 2.
CorrectIncorrect
Correct answer is: The x-intercept is 4 and the y-intercept is 6.
To find the x-intercept and y-intercept of the given equation, we compare it with the intercept form equation $\frac{x}{a} + \frac{y}{b} = 1$, where 'a' represents the x-
intercept and 'b' represents the y-intercept.
Therefore, the x-intercept is 4, and the y-intercept is 6.
4If the x-intercept = y-intercept = 1, the equation of a straight line would be
$x + y = 1$
$x - y = 1$
$\frac{x}{2} + \frac{y}{2} = 2$
$x + y = 2$
CorrectIncorrect
Correct answer is: $x + y = 1$
The intercept form equation is $\frac{x}{a} + \frac{y}{b} = 1$, where 'a' represents the x-intercept and 'b' represents
the y-intercept. If a = 1 and b = 1, then the equation becomes $x + y = 1$.
Frequently Asked Questions about Intercept Form
What information can we obtain from the intercept form of a line?
The intercept form of a line provides information about the x-intercept and y-intercept, which represent the points where the line intersects the x-axis and y-axis, respectively.
What is the slope intercept form of a line?
The slope intercept form of the equation of a straight line is y = mx + b, where “m” is the slope of the line and “b” is the y-intercept.
What does the graph of the intercept form of a line look like?
The graph of the intercept form equation $\frac{x}{a} + \frac{y}{b} = 1$ represents a straight line that intersects the x-axis at the point (a, 0) and the y-axis at the point (0, b).
Can the intercept form equation represent a line passing through the origin?
Yes, if the x-intercept (a) and y-intercept (b) of the intercept form equation are both zero, the line passes through the origin.
How do you find the x-intercept and y-intercept from the intercept form equation?
In the intercept form equation $\frac{x}{a} + \frac{y}{b} = 1$, the x-intercept is a. It can be found by setting y = 0 and solving for x. The y-intercept is b. It can be found by setting x = 0 and solving for y.
Can the intercept form equation have fractions or decimals as intercept values?
Yes, the intercept form equation can have fractions or decimals as intercept values. The intercepts can take any real number value.