Finding the
X and Y Intercepts
Of a Polynomial
Graphing
y = (x + 4)(x + 2)(x – 1)(x – 3)
y = (x + 4)(x + 2)(x – 1)(x – 3)
Since we already have a factored form of the
polynomial we can simply get the x and y intercepts
By equating zero
X+ 4= 0 x+ 2 = 0 x– 1 = 0
X = -4 x = -2 x= 1
X–3= 0
X= 3
y = (x + 4)(x + 2)(x – 1)(x – 3)
X – intercepts: -4, -2, 1, 3
To get the y intercept just substitute x by 0 then
simplify
Y = (0 + 4)(0 + 2)(0 – 1)(0 – 3)
Y = (4) (2) (-1) (-3)
Y = 24
y = (x + 4)(x + 2)(x – 1)(x – 3)
X – intercepts: -4, -2, 1, 3
Y – intercept: 24
x -5 -3 0 2 4
To find the values of y just simply substitute each
value by x in the given polynomial
y = (x + 4)(x + 2)(x – 1)(x – 3)
X – intercepts: -4, -2, 1, 3
Y – xintercept:
-5
24 -3 0 2 4
Y = (-5 + 4)(-5 + 2)(-5 – 1)(-5 -3) = (-1)(-3)(-6)(-8)
= 144
y = (x + 4)(x + 2)(x – 1)(x – 3)
X – intercepts: -4, -2, 1, 3 or (-4, 0)(-2, 0)(1, 0)(3, 0)
Y – intercept: 24 or (0, 24)
x -5 -3 0 2 4
y 144 -24 24 -24 144
Y = (-5 + 4)(-5 + 2)(-5 – 1)(-5 -3) = (-1)(-3)(-6)(-8)
= 144
Now lets go ahead and try another example
Y =
First lets factor this trinomial
Now lets go ahead and try another example
Y =
Y =
Y = x(x - 3)(x + 1)
So after factoring we can just simply equate again
and find the x and y intercepts.
Now lets go ahead and try another example
Y =
Y =
Y = x(x - 3)(x + 1)
x = 0 x – 3 = 0 x + 1 = 0
x = 3 x = -1
Y =
Now lets go ahead and try another example
Y=
Y=
Y = x(x - 3)(x + 1)
x=0 x–3=0 x+1=0
x=3 x = -1
Y=
Now lets go ahead and try another example
Y =
Y =
Y = x(x - 3)(x + 1)
x –x intercepts:
-3 -2 0,
-1 3, 0-1 or
1 (0,2 0)(3,
3 0),(-1, 0)
y
y – intercept: 0 or (0, 0)
Now lets go ahead and try another example
Y =
Y =
Y = x(x - 3)(x + 1)
x – intercepts: 0, 3, -1 or (0, 0)(3, 0),(-1, 0)
y – intercept: 0 or (0, 0)
x -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
Y = (-3) -2(-3) -3(-3)
Y = -36
Now lets go ahead and try another example
Y =
Y =
Y = x(x - 3)(x + 1)
x – intercepts: 0, 3, -1 or (0, 0)(3, 0),(-1, 0)
y – intercept: 0 or (0, 0)
x -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
y -36 -10 0 0 -4 -6 0
Y = (-3) -2(-3) -3(-3)
Y = -36
Now we can graph this polynomial
Lets try this together
Y = (x + 3)(x – 2) (x + 1)
Lets try this together
Y = (x + 3)(x – 2) (x + 1)
x + 3 = 0 x – 2 = 0 x + 1 = 0
x = -3 x = 2 x = -1
y = (0 + 3)(0 – 2) (0 + 1)
= (3)(4)(1) = 12
Lets try this together
Y = (x + 3)(x – 2) (x + 1)
X – intercepts: -3, 2, -1 or (-3, 0)(2, 0)(-1, 0)
x -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
Y –
y
intercept: 12 or (0, 12)
Lets try this together
Y = (x + 3)(x – 2) (x + 1)
X – intercepts: -3, 2, -1 or (-3, 0)(2, 0)(-1, 0)
Y –x intercept:
-3 -2 12-1or (0,
0 12)
1 2 3
y = (-3 + 3) (-3 – 2) (-3 + 1)
y = 0
Lets try this together
Y = (x + 3)(x – 2) (x + 1)
X – intercepts: -3, 2, -1 or (-3, 0)(2, 0)(-1, 0)
Y –x intercept:
-3 -2 12-1or (0,
0 12)
1 2 3
y 0 -16 0 12 0 32 384
y = (-3 + 3) (-3 – 2) (-3 + 1)
y = 0
Now we can graph this polynomial