document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1160169>Question 1160169</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The following table of values represents points (x, y) on the graph of a linear function. Determine the y-intercept of this graph.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " x  y<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-2  8 <BR>\n" );
document.write( " 1  2<BR>\n" );
document.write( " 2  0<BR>\n" );
document.write( " 4 -4 </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #783368 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><B>greenestamps(13200)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=greenestamps><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=783368\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Solving the problem using formal algebra, as the other tutor did, is something a student should know how to do, especially if he is just beginning to study algebra.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "But using your understanding of linear functions to solve the problem using logical reasoning can be a valuable exercise in learning.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "We want to find the y-intercept, which is the point where the graph crosses the y-axis -- i.e., where the x value is 0.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Look at the two points A(2,0) and B(1,2).  To get from A to B, we move 1 unit to the left and 2 units up.  Since the function is linear, when we again move 1 unit left and 2 units up we will be at another point on the graph.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "But 1 unit left and 2 units up from B(1,2) puts us at (0,4) -- and that's exactly where we want to be.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "So the y-intercept is (0,4).<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Students will like math a lot more if they think about what the formal formulas are telling you -- instead of just doing rote memorization of the formulas and applying them without thinking about what they mean.<br><BR>\n" );
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