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X-Axis

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Pre-Algebra

Definition

The x-axis is the horizontal reference line in a rectangular coordinate system that represents the independent variable. It is used to measure the position or value of an object along the horizontal dimension.

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5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. The x-axis is the horizontal axis that runs left to right on a coordinate plane, representing the independent variable.
  2. The position of a point on the x-axis is measured by its distance from the origin (0, 0), which is the intersection of the x-axis and y-axis.
  3. When graphing linear equations, the x-axis is used to plot the independent variable, which is typically the input value or the variable that can be controlled.
  4. The x-intercept of a linear equation is the point where the graph of the equation intersects the x-axis, indicating the value of x when y = 0.
  5. The slope of a linear equation is the ratio of the change in the y-value (vertical change) to the change in the x-value (horizontal change), which is represented by the coefficient of x in the equation.

Review Questions

  • Explain the role of the x-axis in the rectangular coordinate system and how it relates to graphing linear equations.
    • In the rectangular coordinate system, the x-axis is the horizontal reference line that represents the independent variable. When graphing linear equations, the x-axis is used to plot the independent variable, which is typically the input value or the variable that can be controlled. The position of a point on the x-axis is measured by its distance from the origin (0, 0), which is the intersection of the x-axis and y-axis. The x-intercept of a linear equation is the point where the graph of the equation intersects the x-axis, indicating the value of x when y = 0.
  • Describe how the x-axis is used to determine the slope of a linear equation.
    • The slope of a linear equation is the ratio of the change in the y-value (vertical change) to the change in the x-value (horizontal change), which is represented by the coefficient of x in the equation. To determine the slope, you need to identify two points on the graph of the linear equation and calculate the rise (change in y-value) over the run (change in x-value) between those two points. The x-axis is used to measure the horizontal change in the x-value, which is the denominator of the slope formula.
  • Analyze the relationship between the x-axis, the independent variable, and the graphing of linear equations.
    • The x-axis in the rectangular coordinate system represents the independent variable, which is the input value that can be controlled or manipulated. When graphing linear equations, the x-axis is used to plot the independent variable, while the y-axis represents the dependent variable, which changes in response to the independent variable. The position of points on the x-axis determines the x-coordinate of the graph, which, along with the y-coordinate, defines the location of the points that satisfy the linear equation. The x-intercept of the graph, where the line intersects the x-axis, indicates the value of the independent variable (x) when the dependent variable (y) is equal to zero.
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