Question

A function f(x) has x intercepts of -3 and -5. What is the constant term in the function?

Answer 1

Answer:

The constant term in the function is 5

Step-by-step explanation:

we have

$f(x)=x^{2}+8x+b$

where

b is the y-intercept or the constant term of the function

Remember that

The x-intercept is the value of x when the value of the function is equal to zero

so

For x=-3 ----> f(x)=0

For x=-5 ----> f(x)=0

substitute any of the intercepts in the function

For x=-3

$0=(-3)^{2}+8(-3)+b$

$0=9-24+b$

$0=-15+b$

$b=15$

$f(x)=x^{2}+8x+15$

Verify with the other intercept

For x=-5

$0=(-5)^{2}+8(-5)+15$

$0=25-40+15$

$0=0$ ---> is true

therefore

The constant term in the function is 5