Problem:

Find the degree of the following function and also the points where its graph cuts the x and y axes (x and y intercepts).

Type the function x^2-2*x-3 in the text field and observe the graph.

You can scale the graph with the + and the - button

Operator	Description
+	Plus
-	Minus
*	Multiplication
/	Division
^	Power

Solution:

It is a quadratic function and so the degree is 2. To find the point where its graph cuts the x axis, we have to make y = 0. We are then left with the equation

This is a quadratic equation. Solving the equation yields x = 3 and x = -1. These are points where the function graph intercepts the x-axis.
To find the point where the graph intercepts the y-axis (y-intercept), we just need to make x = 0. This yields y = -3.

Problem:

Find the degree of the following functions
a) y=x³-x
b) y= x⁴-5x²+4

Solution:

For a, the degree is 3 and for b, the degree is 4.

For more information about graphing non-linear functions, please refer to graphing functions