Home > Algebra > Intercepts and the Cover-Up Method

How do you use the cover-up method to solve for the x and y intercept?

Answer 1

I suppose that "cover-up" is a friendlier term for "setting a variable equal to zero," so if you are looking for the #x#-intercept of a line, then set #y# equal to zero, and for #y#-intercept, set #x#-equal to zero.

Example

Let us find the #x,y#-intercepts of the line

#2x+3y=12#.

To find the #x#-intercept, set #y=0#.

#=> 2x+3(0)=12 => 2x=12 => x=6#

So, the #x#-intercept is #6#.

To find the #y#-intercept, set #x=0#.

#=> 2(0)+3y=12 => 3y=12 => y=4#

So, the #y#-intercept is #4#.

I hope that this was helpful.

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Answer 2

Avery Alexander

To use the cover-up method to solve for the x-intercept, you set y = 0 and solve for x. To solve for the y-intercept, set x = 0 and solve for y.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.