From the curve, it can be predicted that the rise in the IE is due to increasing nuclear charge and stable electronic arrangement. The dip suggest that although nuclear charge is increasing but species are getting stabilised by losing an electron.
a is 11Na, b is 12Mg, c is 13Al, d is 14Si, e is 15P, f is 16S, g is 17Cl, h is 18Ar,
x = 15 - 12 = 3,
y = 16 - 13 = 3
x - y = 0