In the context of the given function \( y = 240,000 - 20,000x \), where \( y \) represents the value of the building and \( x \) represents the number of years, the y-intercept refers to the value of \( y \) when \( x = 0 \).
Meaning of the Y-Intercept:
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Value at Year Zero: The y-intercept occurs when \( x = 0 \). Plugging in \( x = 0 \) into the equation gives: \[ y = 240,000 - 20,000(0) = 240,000 \] This means that at the beginning (year 0), the value of the building is $240,000.
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Initial Investment: The y-intercept represents the original value or cost of the building when it was purchased. It indicates the initial investment made by the business in the asset before any depreciation occurs.
Overall, the y-intercept in this scenario reflects the starting point of the value of the building before it begins to depreciate each year.