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What is the function of a line's y-intercept?

  1. It defines the rate of change of the line

  2. It determines the slope of the line

  3. It defines the x-coordinate where the line crosses the y-axis

  4. It determines the x-coordinate of the line's vertex

The correct answer is: It defines the x-coordinate where the line crosses the y-axis

The y-intercept of a line is the point where the line crosses the y-axis. In other words, it is the x-coordinate of the point where the line intersects the y-axis, which is represented by the equation y = mx + b. Therefore, the y-intercept serves to define the x-coordinate where the line crosses the y-axis. This is why B, D, and A are incorrect as they refer to aspects of the line that are not relevant to the function of the y-intercept. Option B, slope, is determined by the ratio of change in the y-coordinate to the change in the x-coordinate and is not related to the y-intercept. Option D, vertex, refers to the point where a parabola intersects its axis of symmetry and is typically not used in the context of lines. Option A, rate of change, is a concept used to describe how