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How can you find the x-intercept of a quadratic equation?

  1. Plug in 0 for x

  2. Plug in 0 for y

  3. Use the quadratic formula

  4. Calculate the discriminant

The correct answer is: Plug in 0 for y

To find the x-intercept of a quadratic equation, you set the value of y equal to 0. This is because the x-intercept is defined as the point where the graph of the equation intersects the x-axis, which occurs when the output value (y) is zero. By substituting 0 for y in the quadratic equation and solving for x, you can determine the points at which the graph crosses the x-axis. Using the quadratic formula or calculating the discriminant, while related to finding roots of a quadratic equation, are methods to evaluate the solutions after the equation has been set up. However, they do not directly address the initial step of determining where y equals zero to find the x-intercepts.