In the context of the trend line equation \( y = -7.2x + 98.9 \), where \( y \) represents the average final grade and \( x \) represents the number of hours spent on social media, the \( y \)-intercept is the value of \( y \) when \( x = 0 \).
The \( y \)-intercept in this equation is \( 98.9 \). This means that if a student spends 0 hours on social media, their average final grade would be 98.9.
In summary, the interpretation of the \( y \)-intercept is that students who do not engage in social media at all (0 hours) are expected to have an average final grade of 98.9.