Nice Try

I feel like I've had the same conversation many times today as we review linear equations. Students have been given an equation in Standard Form and are asked for the x and/or y intercepts. It has gone something like this:

"Mr. Cox, I don't know how to do this."
"Do what?"

"Number 12."
"What's it asking you for?"

"I am supposed to find the x-intercept."
"What's the equation?"

"2x + 3y = 6."
"So what do you know about all x intercepts?"

"They're on the x-axis."
"Alright, then give me an example of an x-intercept."

"5."
"That's a number, give me an x-intercept."

"(4,0)."
"Give me another."

"(-10,0)."
"And one more."

"(7,0)."
"Ok, now what can you tell me about all of those x-intercepts? What do they have in common?"

"y = 0."
"So what do..."

"Oh, that's right, I let y = 0 and solve for x."

It's ! funny how the default is always "I don't get it." Don't let 'em fool ya. They know more than they let on.

Liner equations Question and Answers