SOLUTION: i have a problem that says "you start a pet walking service. you spend $15 in supplies to get started. you plan on charging $5 to walk each pet."then it asks me to write an equatio

Algebra ->  Coordinate Systems and Linear Equations  -> Linear Equations and Systems Word Problems -> SOLUTION: i have a problem that says "you start a pet walking service. you spend $15 in supplies to get started. you plan on charging $5 to walk each pet."then it asks me to write an equatio      Log On


   

Question 1110401: i have a problem that says "you start a pet walking service. you spend $15 in supplies to get started. you plan on charging $5 to walk each pet."then it asks me to write an equation to relate your profit to the number of pets you walk.
i understand understand that the equation is y=5x-15
but then it asks me what is the x-intercept and what does it represent and the same thing with y-intercept.
can you please help me
Answer by KMST(5328) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The x-intercept is the point on the graph of your function where it touches the x-axis (or just the x-coordinate of that point).
As the x-axis is the y=0 line, you can find the x-coordinate by solving 5x-15=0 to get x=3.
That gives you the x value (the number of pets walked) to get a profit of y=0 . You could call it your break-even point.
Until you have walked 3 dogs, you have spent more money to get your business going than what you have earned. After that , every dog you walk gives you a net profit.