Rectangular Coordinate System Quiz

Rectangular Coordinate System/Cartesian Plane

• A rectangular coordinate system, also known as a Cartesian plane, is formed by two intersecting real number lines at right angles.
• The horizontal axis is usually called the x-axis.
• The vertical axis is usually called the y-axis.
• The x-y plane is also called the rectangular coordinate system.
• The intersection of the two axes is called the origin (0,0).
• The plane is divided into four quadrants.
• The quadrants do not include the axes.
• A point on the x or y axis is not in a quadrant.
• Each point in the x-y plane is associated with an ordered pair (x, y).
• The x and y values are called coordinates.
• There is an infinite number of points in the Cartesian plane.
• Always start at (0,0) for plotting any point.
• In plotting (x,y), pay attention to the directions of the x and y axes.
  • The x-axis goes left and right.
  • The y-axis goes up and down.
• To plot (x,y), start at the origin (0,0).
• Move x units horizontally (right for positive x, left for negative x) and then y units vertically (up for positive y, down for negative y) to reach the point (x,y)