The x-intercept of a linear equation is the point where the line crosses the x-axis. In the context of a linear equation in standard form, which is expressed as ax + by = c, finding the x-intercept involves setting the value of y to zero and solving for x.
To find the x-intercept, you can follow these steps:
- Start with the standard form of the equation: ax + by = c.
- Set y = 0 in the equation. This is because the x-intercept occurs where the line intersects the x-axis, which is when the vertical position (y) is zero.
- The equation now simplifies to: ax + b(0) = c or ax = c.
- Solving for x, you get: x = c/a.
Hence, the x-intercept is the point (c/a, 0). This point gives you the horizontal coordinate at which the line will cross the x-axis.