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Defining a Coordinate System
Overview
There are times when we need to read points on a coordinate plane.
What is a coordinate plane?
A coordinate plane is two number lines that intersect. The first number line is called the x-axis. It travels horizontally. The second number line is called the y-axis. It travels vertically. The number lines intersect at the origin.
How do you read a coordinate plane?
Each point on the plane is located with a set of coordinates called an ordered pair. The first number in the ordered pair tells you how far to travel across the x-axis from the origin. It’s called the x-coordinate. The second number tells you how far to travel up the y-axis from the x-coordinate. It’s called the y-coordinate.
Let’s give it a try.
Which ordered pair represents Point A on the coordinate plane below?
- (5, 2)
- (2, 5)
Step 1: Locate Point A
All of the points are labeled. We can see that Point A is red in the coordinate plane.
Step 2: Determine the x-coordinate
We know that the x-coordinate tells us how far to travel across the x-axis from the origin. So, we need to count how far Point A is from the origin.
Step 3: Determine the y-coordinate
We know that the y-coordinate tells us how far to travel up the y-axis from the x-axis. So, we need to count how far Point A is from 2 on the x-axis.
Step 4: Write the ordered pair
We know that the coordinates need to be presented in an ordered pair.
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Use the coordinate plane to answer this question.
Point A is on the __________.
- origin
- x-axis
- y-axis
- all of the above
Answer
y-axis
Point A is on the y-axis. Its coordinates are (0, 5).
Use the coordinate plane to answer this question.
Point B is on the __________.
- origin
- x-axis
- y-axis
- all of the above
Answer
x-axis
Point B is on the x-axis. Its coordinates are (4, 0).
Use the coordinate plane to answer this question.
Point C is on the __________.
- origin
- x-axis
- y-axis
- all of the above
Answer
all of the above
Point C represents the origin, but it is also where the x-axis and y-axis intersect. Therefore, it is on all three.
Use the coordinate plane to answer this question.
What is the y-coordinate of the Point A?
- 4
- 2
- 6
Answer
2
The point is up 2.
Use the coordinate plane to answer this question.
What is the x-coordinate of the Point A?
- 4
- 2
- 6
Answer
4
The point is over 4.
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