Coordinate Plane Basics

Coordinate Plane

Quadrants

• The coordinate plane is divided into four quadrants:
  1. Quadrant I: (+, +) - Upper right quadrant
  2. Quadrant II: (-, +) - Upper left quadrant
  3. Quadrant III: (-, -) - Lower left quadrant
  4. Quadrant IV: (+, -) - Lower right quadrant

Axes

• The coordinate plane has two axes:
  • X-axis (horizontal axis): measures the x-coordinate (abscissa)
  • Y-axis (vertical axis): measures the y-coordinate (ordinate)
• The axes intersect at the origin (0, 0)

Graphing Points

• A point on the coordinate plane is represented by an ordered pair (x, y)
• The x-coordinate is the distance from the y-axis, and the y-coordinate is the distance from the x-axis
• To graph a point, start at the origin and move:
  • x units to the right (if x is positive) or left (if x is negative)
  • y units up (if y is positive) or down (if y is negative)

Coordinate Plane

Quadrants

• Coordinate plane is divided into four quadrants, each with its own unique signs for x and y coordinates
• Quadrant I: Upper right quadrant, (+, +) signs
• Quadrant II: Upper left quadrant, (-, +) signs
• Quadrant III: Lower left quadrant, (-, -) signs
• Quadrant IV: Lower right quadrant, (+, -) signs

Axes

• Two axes: X-axis (horizontal) and Y-axis (vertical)
• X-axis measures x-coordinate (abscissa)
• Y-axis measures y-coordinate (ordinate)
• Axes intersect at origin (0, 0)

Graphing Points

• Point on coordinate plane is represented by ordered pair (x, y)
• x-coordinate is distance from Y-axis, and y-coordinate is distance from X-axis
• To graph a point, start at origin and move:
  • Right (if x is positive) or left (if x is negative) by x units
  • Up (if y is positive) or down (if y is negative) by y units

Learn about the quadrants and axes of the coordinate plane, including the origin and how to measure coordinates.