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How to Find X-Intercepts on a Graphing Calculator

Although you can find x-intercepts by setting the equation equal to zero and solving for the "x" value, having a graphing calculator graph out the equation is a quick and efficient way to find all the x-intercepts in the equation. By knowing which buttons to push on your calculator and which functions to use, finding the x-intercept can take less than a minute.

Instructions

- 1
  Press the "Y=" button on your graphing calculator to enter the "Graph" mode. Enter the equation into the "Y1" space provided and press the "Enter" button to graph the equation.
- 2
  Activate the "Trace" menu by pressing the "2nd" button on your graphing calculator, followed by the "Calc" button.
- 3
  Scroll down to the "Zero" option on the "Trace" menu and press the "Enter" button on your calculator.
- 4
  Scroll left of the approximated x-intercept with the left arrow button and press the "Enter" button to set the first marker. Scroll to the right of the approximated x-intercept with the right arrow button and press the "Enter" button again to set the second marker. The two markers you have set should encase the x-intercept.
- 5
  Press the "Enter" button on your calculator twice. It will take several seconds for your calculator to find the exact location of the x-intercept. After the calculator has figured out the location of the x-intercept, you will see an "x" and "y" value labeled across the bottom of the screen. The "x" value will be your x-intercept.
- 6
  Repeat Steps 4 and 5 to find any additional x-intercepts within the graph.

Numerology