First, students will learn what intercepts are.
Intro to intercepts by Khan Academy
Next, students will learn how to find the intercepts of a function from its graph. Students will see two types of problems. For the first type of problem, students are given both the graph and equation of a line in standard form. Students will identify the requested intercept graphically, then check the intercept using the equation.
x-intercept of a line by Khan Academy
Intercepts from a graph by Khan Academy
For the second type of problem, students are given the graph of some function, possibly non-linear, and asked for its intercepts, which students will determine graphically.
Finding Intercepts from the Graph of Functions by Cole's World of Mathematics
Khan Academy doesn't cover finding intercepts from non-linear graphs.
Conclude by giving your students this challenge. You'll find a solution on that page, but I prefer the solution found here.
Next, give your students these challenges:
- Dotty Six by NRICH
- Sometimes We Lose Things by NRICH
- 2020 AMC 8, Problem 14
- 2009 AMC 8, Problem 6
- 2010 AMC 8, Problem 12
- Sweet Possibilities by Pierce School: Problem / Solution
Conclude by leading this investigation:
Pollinator Puzzles (multiplication, division)
by MathPickle