In the intercept form of a parabola, what do r1 and r2 represent?

In the intercept form of a parabola, the equation is typically expressed as ( y = a(x - r_1)(x - r_2) ), where ( r_1 ) and ( r_2 ) are the points where the parabola intersects the x-axis. These points are known as the x-intercepts. At these values, the output ( y ) equals zero, indicating where the graph crosses the x-axis. Therefore, ( r_1 ) and ( r_2 ) are essential in identifying the roots of the quadratic function, directly relating to where the parabola touches or crosses the horizontal axis. Understanding this concept is fundamental when analyzing the graph and behavior of quadratic equations.