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JEE Main 2026 Preparation: Question Papers, Solutions, Mock Tests & Strategy Unacademy » JEE Study Material » Mathematics » The intercept of a line on the coordinate axes

The intercept of a line on the coordinate axes

When a line crosses the x- or y-axis, it is said to have an intercept. Intercept is the point on a line where the x- or y-axis intersects.

Table of Content
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Introduction

Intercept is the point where a curve or line intersects the graph’s axis. The x-intercept is a point that intersects the x-axis. The y-intercept is a point that intersects the y-axis.

The Intercept is where a line intersects either the x-axis or the y-axis. If the axis isn’t given, the y-axis is usually used. The letter “b” is widely used to indicate it.

Intercept Formula:

Y = mx + c is the line equation that meets the y-axis at a point.

To write the line’s intercept form, replace c with b. As a result, the equation is:

y = mx + b

As a result, the formula for the y-intercept of a line is:

y – mx = b

,where b represents the intercept.

m is the line’s slope.

y and x are the points on the y-axis and the x-axis, respectively.

Identifying the X and Y Intercepts

Consider the following equation in the form of a straight line:

C = X + By.

Divide the equation by C

C/C = (X/C) + (By/C)

1 = [x/(C/A)] + [y/(C/B)]

When comparing this equation to the intercept form equation of a line, (x/a) + (y/b) = 1.

As a result, we get – x-intercept = a = C/A.

B/C = y-intercept = b.

Alternatively,

Substitute y = 0 and solve for x to find the x-intercept.

X + B(0) = C, for example.

C = X

C/A = x

Substitute x =0 and solve for y to find the y-intercept.

A(0) + By = C, for example.

C = by

C/B = y

Lets assume the straight line as 5x + 2y = 10.

Follow these steps to locate the x-intercept:

Assume the equation x + By = C, which is a line.

To find the x-intercept, substitute y = 0 and solve for x.

The y-intercept can be found by substituting x = 0 and solving for y.

Assume the equation 5x + 2y = 10 is a straight line.

To locate the x-intercept.

Substitute y = 0 in the given equation.

10 = 5x + 2(0)

5x =10

2 = x

To find the y-intercept, 

Substitute x = 0 for x in the above equation.

10 = 5(0) + 2y

2y = 10

5 = y

As a result, the x-intercept is (2, 0), and the y-intercept is (0, 5).

Two Point  Form :

Line equations with intercepts have an equation x/a + y/b = 1, where a is the x-intercept and b is the y-intercept. It’s the two-point form on a line where it intersects the x-axis closest to its origin. Similarly, the point on a line where it intersects the y-axis is most closely related to its y-intercept. On the x-axis, it intersects at point (a, 0), while the y-axis is intersected at the point (0, b).

Intercept Form of Equation of a Line:

 Equation : x/a + y/b = 1.

The variables in the equation are x and y, and the x- and y-intercepts are a and b. The slope-intercept form of this equation is -b/a.

Because this line cuts both coordinate axes, it forms a right triangle, and the area of the right-angled triangle is equal to the product of half of its intercepts. In addition, the intercept form of a line’s equation can be simplified and represented as the standard two-point form of a line’s equation as:

bx + ay = ab

As an example, convert the equation 12x + 3y -24 = 0 into intercept form. What do the x-intercept and y-intercept of a line mean?

12x + 3y – 24= 0 is the given equation for a line. The goal is to translate this into the intercept form of a line equation.

24 = 12 + 3y

1 = (12x + 3y)/24

1 = 12x/24 + 3y/24

1 = x/2 + y/8

When we compare this to the equation x/a + y/b = 1, we see that the x-intercept is 2, and the y-intercept is 8.

The x-intercept is therefore 2, and the y-intercept is 8.

Graph of intercept form:

The intercepts of a graph are the locations where the two axes, the x-axis, and the y-axis cross. The x-coordinate is where, If the graph deviates from the x-axis, and the y-coordinate is the y-coordinate is the point at which the graph intersects the y-axis.

Consider the case when two intercepts, P (2,0) and Q (0,3), connect the x- and y-axes, respectively. Determine the equation of the line.

P (2,0) and Q (2,0) are two intercepts that cross the x- and y-axes (0,3).

We know the line’s equation because we know the line’s equation.

1 = x/a + y/b………. (1)

In this situation, a = 2 and b = 3.

As a result, when the values of intercepts a and b are inserted into equation 1, the following results are obtained:

=>x/2 + y/3 = 1

=> 3x + 2y = 6

=> 3x + 2y – 6 = 0

As a result, 3x + 2y – 6 = 0 is the equation for the line.

Conclusion:

Intercept is the point where a curve or line that intersects the graph’s axis. The x-intercept is a point the graph intersects the x-axis. The y-intercept is a point that intersects the y-axis. The intercept formula will be y = mx + c is the equation of the line that meets the y-axis at a point and for the y-intercept of a line is:

y – mx = b

Intercept Form of Equation of a Line: x/a + y/b = 1.The intercepts of a graph are the locations where the two axes, the x-axis, and the y-axis, cross. The x-coordinate is where, If the graph deviates from the x-axis, and the y-coordinate is the point at which the graph intersects the y-axis.

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