Now that you can identify a polynomial function, you can explore its characteristics. To do this, you will study both the graph and the equation.

At some point, every function crosses the y-axis. The y-value of this point is the y-intercept.

A function can have only one y-intercept.

Find the y-intercept for each of the following polynomial functions using the graph and the equation.

  1. y = 2x + 4
  1. y = –x2 – 6x – 2
  1. y = 0.5x3 – 2.5x2 + 0.1x + 10