<P> If the function is linear and is expressed in slope - intercept form as f (x) = a + b x, (\ displaystyle f (x) = a + bx,) the constant term a (\ displaystyle a) is the y - coordinate of the y - intercept . </P> <P> Some 2 - dimensional mathematical relationships such as circles, ellipses, and hyperbolas can have more than one y - intercept . Because functions associate x values to no more than one y value as part of their definition, they can have at most one y - intercept . </P> <P> Analogously, an x-intercept is a point where the graph of a function or relation intersects with the x-axis . As such, these points satisfy y = 0 . The zeros, or roots, of such a function or relation are the x-coordinates of these x-intercepts . </P> <P> Unlike y - intercepts, functions of the form y = f (x) may contain multiple x-intercepts . The x-intercepts of functions, if any exist, are often more difficult to locate than the y - intercept, as finding the y intercept involves simply evaluating the function at x = 0 . </P>

What do the x and y intercepts represent