Determine whether the equation defines \( y \) as a function of \( x \).

To determine whether an equation defines \( y \) as a function of \( x \), you can use the vertical line test. If you can draw a vertical line at any point along the \( x \)-axis and it intersects the graph of the equation at more than one point, then \( y \) is not a function of \( x \). Essentially, for each \( x \) value, there should be only one corresponding \( y \) value. Another fun tip is to think of \( y \) as your best friend; you wouldn’t want to have two best friends with the same name, right? If each \( x \) value leads to multiple \( y \) values, your friendship is in a tangled mess—definitely not a function! To pinpoint potential problems, check for equations that grapple with square roots, circles, or any form of polynomial with even powers, as they often yield more than one \( y \) for a single \( x \).