Graphs · The coordinate plane · 1.1

Axes & ordered pairs.

The coordinate plane has two number lines: the horizontal x-axis and the vertical y-axis, crossing at the origin (0, 0). A point is an ordered pair (x, y): x tells you how far across, y how far up.

01 / THE IDEA

See it work.

Watch the method

Axes & ordered pairs

(3, 2) means 3 across and 2 up.

1 / 1
-6-666(3, 2)
1

Read across, then up

Go 3 right (x), then 2 up (y).

(3, 2)(3,\, 2)
02 / YOUR TURN

Practice until it feels automatic.

Your turn

Work it out.

Type (x, y), e.g. (3, -2).

streak 0
best 0
-6-666
Your answer:
— / WHY IT WORKS

The idea underneath.

x first, then y

The first number is the x-coordinate (across), the second is the y-coordinate (up/down). They meet at the origin.

Why it works

(3, 2): right 3, up 2.

03 / WORKED EXAMPLES

From easy to tricky.

EX 1easy

Name the coordinates of the plotted point.

1

Read across, then up

Go 2 right (x), then 1 up (y). (2, 1)

EX 2medium

Name the coordinates of the plotted point.

1

Read across, then up

Go 3 right (x), then 1 down (y). (3, -1)

EX 3hard

Name the coordinates of the plotted point.

1

Read across, then up

Go 6 right (x), then 6 up (y). (6, 6)

04 / COMMON TRAPS

Where students slip.

Trap

Swapping x and y.

Fix

x is across, y is up — in that order.

Trap

Counting from the wrong place.

Fix

Start at the origin (0, 0).

05 / QUIZ

Test yourself.

The Test

12 problems across three tiers. Auto-graded on submit. Hints and a full walkthrough on every question. Your work is saved on this device — sign in to keep it across devices.

0/12Answered
How to answerType just the value. Formatting won't trip you up — we ignore spaces, capital letters, commas, and subscript style, so t₁ = 5, d = 3 and t1=5,d=3 both count. For a list of numbers, separate them with commas (e.g. 3, 10, 17).
Core

Core (4)

C1

Name the coordinates of the plotted point.

Need a hint?
  • The first number is across (x).
  • The second is up/down (y).
C2

Name the coordinates of the plotted point.

Need a hint?
  • The first number is across (x).
  • The second is up/down (y).
C3

Name the coordinates of the plotted point.

Need a hint?
  • The first number is across (x).
  • The second is up/down (y).
C4

Name the coordinates of the plotted point.

Need a hint?
  • The first number is across (x).
  • The second is up/down (y).
Apply

Apply (4)

A1

Name the coordinates of the plotted point.

Need a hint?
  • The first number is across (x).
  • The second is up/down (y).
A2

Name the coordinates of the plotted point.

Need a hint?
  • The first number is across (x).
  • The second is up/down (y).
A3

Name the coordinates of the plotted point.

Need a hint?
  • The first number is across (x).
  • The second is up/down (y).
A4

Name the coordinates of the plotted point.

Need a hint?
  • The first number is across (x).
  • The second is up/down (y).
Extension

Extension (4)

E1

Name the coordinates of the plotted point.

Need a hint?
  • The first number is across (x).
  • The second is up/down (y).
E2

Name the coordinates of the plotted point.

Need a hint?
  • The first number is across (x).
  • The second is up/down (y).
E3

Name the coordinates of the plotted point.

Need a hint?
  • The first number is across (x).
  • The second is up/down (y).
E4

Name the coordinates of the plotted point.

Need a hint?
  • The first number is across (x).
  • The second is up/down (y).