# x and y intercepts

G

#### Guest

##### Guest
I have an equation that I found the y intercept , but I can't figure out the x intercept. Can anyone help me?

y= -3/260x(3-260)

Thanks a bunch!

#### Matt

##### Junior Member
Set y = 0 and solve for x. If the x is in the denominator (I can't tell if it is, your expression is ambiguous, please use more parentheses) then the curve does not have any x-intercepts.

G

#### Guest

##### Guest
This is only what I have:

solved for y:

y= -3
-----x(x-260)
260

x=0
y= -3
---- (0)(o-260)
260

y=0 (0) so the y intercepts are 0 and 0

I started for the x intercept, this is what I started:
0= -3
----- x(x-260)
260
the answer in my book says (0, 260) can you explain it to me????
I am sorry if I am being ambiguious.

G

#### Guest

##### Guest
sorry

there were no more parentheses than the ones I wrote from the book.

G

#### Guest

##### Guest
You should be using more parentheses than the book. The book can format math in special ways that you can't display on this message board, so you need to use parentheses instead.

#### Gene

##### Senior Member
If you click twice on the code button then type between the boxes things will look better.
Code:
         -3
0 = ----- x(x-260)
260
Or you can add your own ()s for clarity.
0 = (-3/260)*x*(x-260)
means the same thing.
Actually what you wrote was fine, it is just that so many people would write that when they mean -3/(260*x*(x-260)) that we get suspicious.
Divide by (-3/260) to get
0 = x(x-260)
For that to be true either
x = 0
or x = 260
The x intercepts are 0 and 260.
(Not (0,260) Maybe a long time ago but now that means the point where x=0 and y=260)

G

#### Guest

##### Guest
thanks

You were great help!