Question 710379
First of all, please put multiple-term numerators and denominators in parentheses. What you posted meant:
{{{y = 7/x + 2}}}
But I don't this this is correct because this equation has no y-intercept. I'm going to work on the assumption that the equation is supposed to be:
{{{y = 7/(x + 2)}}}
which should be posted as: y = 7/(x + 2)
(If you're not sure what "multiple-term numerators and denominators" are, just put parentheses around <i>all</i> numerators and denominators.)<br>
Y-intercepts are where a graph intersects the y-axis. <i>All</i> points on the y-axis have x coordinates of 0. So to find y-intercepts you make the x's in the equation zero and then solve for y:
{{{y = 7/((0) + 2)}}}
Simplifying we get:
{{{y = 7/2}}}
So the y-intercept is: (0, 7/2)<br>
X-intercepts are where a graph intersects the x-axis. <i>All</i> points on the x-axis have y coordinates of 0. So to find x-intercepts you make the y's in the equation zero and then solve for x:
{{{0 = 7/(x + 2)}}}
You might already see a problem. If not, go ahead and solve for x. Multiplying each side by x+2 will eliminate the fraction:
{{{0 = 7}}}
Now we can see a problem. There are no x's left in the equation and we have an equation that is not true. This means that it is impossible for the y coordinate to be zero. This means that there is no x-intercept for the graph. This means that the graph never crosses (or touches) the x-axis. This means that the graph is entirely above or entirely below the x-axis. Since the y-intercept, (0, 7/2), is above the x-axis the graph is entirely above the x-axis.<br>
P.S. If your equation really was:
{{{y = 7/x + 2}}}
then you should now know how to find the intercepts.