Calculating Zeros
The x-coordinate of the intersection of a graph with the x-axis is called the Zero.
A zero is thus present exactly when the y-coordinate is zero.
i
Method
- Set function equal to zero ($x_{ N } \Leftrightarrow f(x_N)=0$ and $mx+n=0$)
- Solve equation for $x$
Example
Calculate the zero of the function with the function equation: $f(x)=0.5x+5$
-
Set function equal to zero
$f(x)=0$
$0.5x+5=0$ -
Solve equation for $x$
$0.5x+5=0\quad|-5$
$0.5x=-5\quad|:0.5$
$x_{ N }=-10$