X-axis

Definition

The x-axis is the horizontal reference line in a coordinate system that represents the independent variable. It is the horizontal axis that runs left to right, typically used to display numerical values or categories.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The x-axis is the horizontal line that represents the independent variable, which is the variable that is being manipulated or controlled in an experiment or analysis.
2. When graphing functions, the x-axis is used to plot the independent variable, while the y-axis is used to plot the dependent variable.
3. The domain of a function is the set of all possible values of the independent variable, which are represented on the x-axis.
4. In the context of exponential functions, the x-axis is used to represent the input values, which are the exponents or powers to which the base is raised.
5. When rotating the axes of a coordinate system, the x-axis is the axis that is rotated, and the new x-axis is the resulting line after the rotation.

Review Questions

• Explain the role of the x-axis in the context of domain and range.
  • The x-axis represents the independent variable, which is the input or domain of a function. The domain is the set of all possible values that the independent variable can take on, and these values are plotted along the x-axis. The range, which is the set of all possible output values, is then plotted along the y-axis. Understanding the relationship between the x-axis and the domain is crucial for analyzing the behavior and characteristics of a function.
• Describe how the x-axis is used in the graphs of exponential functions.
  • In the context of exponential functions, the x-axis is used to represent the input values, which are the exponents or powers to which the base is raised. The y-axis, on the other hand, is used to plot the corresponding output values of the exponential function. The shape of the exponential graph is determined by the behavior of the function, with the x-axis serving as the independent variable that drives the exponential growth or decay.
• Analyze the role of the x-axis in the rotation of coordinate system axes.
  • When rotating the axes of a coordinate system, the x-axis is the axis that is rotated. The new x-axis is the resulting line after the rotation, which forms a new set of coordinates. This rotation of the axes can be used to simplify the equation of a function or to analyze the properties of a graph in a different orientation. Understanding the behavior of the x-axis during this rotation is crucial for interpreting the transformed coordinate system and the resulting changes in the function's representation.

Related terms

y-axis: The vertical reference line in a coordinate system that represents the dependent variable. It is the vertical axis that runs up and down, typically used to display numerical values.

Origin:

The point where the x-axis and y-axis intersect, usually denoted as (0, 0), which serves as the starting point for the coordinate system.

Quadrants:

The four regions formed by the intersection of the x-axis and y-axis, which are used to plot points in a coordinate system.