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Making the Connection Between Graphing and Solving

Here's one more thing I want to point out...  This takes us back to when we graphed lines in this form:

y = mx + b

When we let  x = 0, we get the y-intercept (where the graph crosses the y-axis).

y = m ( 0 ) + b which gives y = b and b is the y-intercept

We can do the same thing on these!

Check out the first guy we did:

y = 3x^2 - 1

Let  x = 0

y = 3 x^2 - 1 ... y = 3 ( 0 )^2 -1 which gives y = -1

The graph of y = 3 x^2 -1 showing that the y-intercept is y = -1

Here's the second one we did:

y = -2x^2 - 4x +1

Let  x = 0

y = -2x^2 - 4x + 1 let x = 0 which gives y = 1

y = -2x^2 - 4x + 1 showing that the y-intercept is y = 1

 
Once you get the idea, you can get the y-intercept just by glancing!