SSAT Upper Level Math : x and y Intercept

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SSAT Upper Level Math

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #21 : X And Y Intercept

Ellipse 1

Give the equation of the above ellipse.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The equation of the ellipse with center , horizontal axis of length , and vertical axis of length  is

The ellipse has center , horizontal axis of length 8, and vertical axis of length 16. Therefore,

, and .

The equation of the ellipse is

Example Question #5 : How To Find The Equation Of A Curve

Ellipse 1

Give the equation of the above ellipse.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The equation of the ellipse with center , horizontal axis of length , and vertical axis of length  is

The ellipse has center , horizontal axis of length 10, and vertical axis of length 6. Therefore,

, and .

The equation of the ellipse is

Example Question #22 : X And Y Intercept

Ellipse 1

Give the equation of the above ellipse.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The equation of the ellipse with center , horizontal axis of length , and vertical axis of length  is

The ellipse has center , horizontal axis of length 8, and vertical axis of length 6. Therefore,

, and .

The equation of the ellipse is

 

Example Question #21 : X And Y Intercept

The -intercept and the only -intercept of a vertical parabola on the coordinate plane coincide with the -intercept and the -intercept of the line of the equation . Give the equation of the parabola.

Possible Answers:

Insufficient information is given to determine the equation.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To find the -intercept, that is, the point of intersection with the -axis, of the line of equation , set  and solve for :

The -intercept is .

The -intercept can be found by doing the opposite:

The -intercept is .

The parabola has these intercepts as well. Also, since the vertical parabola has only one -intercept, that point doubles as its vertex as well. 

The equation of a vertical parabola, in vertex form, is

,

where  is the vertex. Set :

for some real . To find it, use the -intercept, setting 

The parabola has equation , which is rewritten as

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Equation Of A Curve

An ellipse on the coordinate plane has as its center the point . It passes through the points  and . Give its equation.

Possible Answers:

Insufficient information is given to determine the equation.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The equation of the ellipse with center , horizontal axis of length , and vertical axis of length  is

The center is , so  and .

To find , note that one endpoint of the horizontal axis is given by the point with the same -coordinate through which it passes, namely, . Half the length of this axis, which is , is the difference of the -coordinates, so . Similarly, to find , note that one endpoint of the vertical axis is given by the point with the same -coordinate through which it passes, namely, . Half the length of this axis, which is , is the difference of the -coordinates, so .

The equation is 

or 

.

Example Question #11 : How To Find The Equation Of A Curve

An ellipse passes through points 

Give its equation.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The equation of the ellipse with center , horizontal axis of length , and vertical axis of length  is

 and  are the endpoints of a horizontal line segment with midpoint

, or 

and length .

 and  are the endpoints of a vertical line segment with midpoint

, or 

and length 

Because their midpoints coincide, these are the endpoints of the horizontal axis and vertical axis, respectively, of the ellipse, and the common midpoint  is the center.

Therefore, 

 and ;

 and ; consequently  and .

The equation of the ellipse is 

, or

 

Example Question #512 : Ssat Upper Level Quantitative (Math)

A horizontal parabola on the coordinate plane   as its only -intercept; its -intercept is .

Give its equation.

Possible Answers:

Insufficient information is given to determine the equation.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

If a horizontal parabola has only one -intercept, which here is , that point doubles as its vertex as well. 

The equation of a horizontal parabola, in vertex form, is

,

where  is the vertex. Set :

To find , use the -intercept, setting :

The equation, in vertex form, is . In standard form:

 

Example Question #511 : Ssat Upper Level Quantitative (Math)

A horizontal parabola on the coordinate plane has vertex ; one of its -intercepts is .

Give its equation.

Possible Answers:

Insufficient information is given to determine the equation.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The equation of a horizontal parabola, in vertex form, is

,

where  is the vertex. Set :

To find , use the known -intercept, setting :

The equation, in vertex form, is ; in standard form:

Example Question #512 : Ssat Upper Level Quantitative (Math)

A vertical parabola on the coordinate plane has -intercepts  and , and passes through .

Give its equation.

Possible Answers:

Insufficient information is given to determine the equation.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

A horizontal parabola which passes through   and  has as its equation

.

To find , substitute the coordinates of the third point, setting :

The equation is therefore , which is, in standard form:

Example Question #515 : Ssat Upper Level Quantitative (Math)

A vertical parabola on the coordinate plane has -intercepts  and , and passes through .

Give its equation.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

A vertical parabola which passes through  and  has as its equation

To find , substitute the coordinates of the third point, setting :

The equation is ; expand to put it in standard form:

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors