Question

The table shows the relationship between the height of a tomato plant and the number of days since it has been planted.

Days: 2,5,8,12,18,22,25,30,32,35
Height: 3,4,6,9,13,15,16,20,21,24

What does the y-intercept represent in this problem situation? Explain your answer.


I'm stuck, please help me understand!

Answer 1

The dependent variable goes on the Y axis and the Independent variable goes on the X axis. You can't control time so it goes on the X axis. In this case days goes on the X axis and the height goes on the Y. The Y-intercept would be the point where the line intercepts the Y axis, as you probably know. Hope that helps. It also might help to draw the table out on a graph.

In this example the table starts on day 2 with a height of 3. The Y-intercept is 3, because that is where it starts and crosses the Y axis...😃

Answer 2

If x is the number of days, then the y-intercept is the plant's original height (day 0). I guess no measurements were taken until the 2nd day.