Determine the X-Axis Intersections of the Quadratic Function y = x(x + 1)

X-Intercepts with Factored Quadratics

Determine the points of intersection of the function

y=x(x+1) y=x(x+1)

With the X

❤️ Continue Your Math Journey!

We have hundreds of course questions with personalized recommendations + Account 100% premium

Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:00 Find the intersection points with the X-axis
00:03 At the intersection with the X-axis, the Y value must = 0
00:07 Substitute Y = 0 and solve for X values
00:13 Find what makes each factor in the product zero
00:16 This is one solution
00:27 This is the second solution
00:31 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

Determine the points of intersection of the function

y=x(x+1) y=x(x+1)

With the X

2

Step-by-step solution

To solve the problem of finding the intersection points of the function y=x(x+1) y = x(x + 1) with the x-axis, follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Understand that the function intersects the x-axis where y=0 y = 0 .
  • Step 2: Set up the equation x(x+1)=0 x(x + 1) = 0 .
  • Step 3: Solve each part of the product for zero:
    • For x=0 x = 0 , the first solution is x=0 x = 0 .
    • For x+1=0 x + 1 = 0 , solving gives us the second solution x=1 x = -1 .

These solutions, x=0 x = 0 and x=1 x = -1 , correspond to the points (1,0)(-1, 0) and (0,0)(0, 0) on the Cartesian plane. Thus, the points of intersection are (1,0)(-1, 0) and (0,0)(0, 0).

The correct choice from the provided options is:

  • : (1,0),(0,0)(-1, 0), (0, 0)

Therefore, the solution to the problem is that the function y=x(x+1) y = x(x + 1) intersects the x-axis at (1,0),(0,0)( -1, 0 ), ( 0, 0 ).

3

Final Answer

(1,0),(0,0) (-1,0),(0,0)

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Zero Product Property: If ab=0 ab = 0 , then a = 0 or b = 0
  • Technique: Set x(x+1)=0 x(x+1) = 0 gives x = 0 and x + 1 = 0
  • Check: Both points have y-coordinate 0: (-1,0) and (0,0) ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Finding where y equals the x-values instead of zero
    Don't set y = x to find intersections = gives wrong points like (1,1)! X-intercepts occur where the graph crosses the x-axis, meaning y = 0. Always set the entire function equal to zero to find x-intercepts.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

The following function has been graphed below:

\( f(x)=-x^2+5x+6 \)

Calculate points A and B.

BBBAAACCC

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why do I set the function equal to zero?

+

X-intercepts are points where the graph crosses the x-axis. On the x-axis, all points have a y-coordinate of zero. So we solve y=0 y = 0 to find where this happens!

What if the function isn't already factored?

+

You'll need to factor first or use other methods like the quadratic formula. The factored form x(x+1) x(x+1) makes it easy to apply the Zero Product Property directly.

How do I know which factor gives which x-intercept?

+

Set each factor equal to zero separately: x=0 x = 0 gives the point (0,0), and x+1=0 x + 1 = 0 gives x=1 x = -1 , so the point (-1,0).

Why are the y-coordinates always zero for x-intercepts?

+

By definition, x-intercepts are where the graph touches the x-axis. Since every point on the x-axis has y=0 y = 0 , all x-intercepts have the form (x-value, 0).

What if one of my factors doesn't equal zero?

+

Every factor in your equation must be set to zero. If x(x+1)=0 x(x+1) = 0 , then either x=0 x = 0 OR x+1=0 x+1 = 0 (or both). This gives you all possible x-intercepts.

🌟 Unlock Your Math Potential

Get unlimited access to all 18 The Quadratic Function questions, detailed video solutions, and personalized progress tracking.

📹

Unlimited Video Solutions

Step-by-step explanations for every problem

📊

Progress Analytics

Track your mastery across all topics

🚫

Ad-Free Learning

Focus on math without distractions

No credit card required • Cancel anytime

More Questions

Click on any question to see the complete solution with step-by-step explanations