How to Find the Y Intercept of a Quadratic Function

To find the y-intercept of a quadratic function, you’ll want to evaluate the function when the variable x is equal to zero. A quadratic function is typically in the form of:

f(x) = ax² + bx + c

Here, a, b, and c are constants. The y-intercept occurs where the graph of the function crosses the y-axis, which is at the point (0, f(0)).

To determine the y-intercept:

1. Set x = 0.
2. Substitute 0 for x in the equation:
3. Simplify the equation to find the value of f(0), which is simply c.

For example, if you have the quadratic function f(x) = 2x² + 3x + 5, you substitute:

f(0) = 2(0)² + 3(0) + 5 = 5

Thus, the y-intercept of this quadratic function is 5, and the point is (0, 5) on the graph.