Question

What is the difference between x-intercepts, zeros, and roots?

Answer 1

Zeros and roots are the same. An `x`-intercept is a point on a graph `y=f(x)` where `x` is a root of `f`.

Explanation:

Given a function `f`, a zero or root of `f` is a value `x_0` at which `f(x_0) = 0`. If we graph the equation `y = f(x)` on a cartesian plane, then the `x`-intercepts are the points at which `y = 0`, meaning they occur exactly where `f(x) = 0`, i.e. where `x` is a root of the function.