Points and their Coordinates
y
Cartesian Plane
René Descartes (1596-1650)
y axis
x
origin
x axis
The Cartesian Plane is
divided into four
quadrants.
II
y
I
x
III
IV
Plotting Points in the Cartesian Plane
(5, 6) is an example of an ordered pair.
y
y coordinate
(5, 6)
x coordinate
6
x
5
Plotting Points in the Cartesian Plane
(5, 6) is an example of an ordered
pair.
y
y coordinate
(5, 6)
x coordinate
x
(x, y)
It is like entering a hotel …
y
up the elevator
in the door
(– 3, 4)
(– 3, 4)
x
up 4
left 3
Plot the following points.
y
A(– 4, 6)
B(2, – 3)
A(– 4, 6)
C(– 6, – 4)
D(7, 3)
D(7, 3)
x
C(– 6, – 4)
B(2, – 3)
These points all lie in different quadrants.
What do you notice about their coordinates?
Plot the following points.
y
E(5, 0)
F(0, 6)
F(0, 6)
G(– 7, 0)
E(5, 0)
H(0, – 3)
G(– 7, 0)
H(0, – 3)
These points all lie on the axes, not in quadrants.
What do you notice about their coordinates?
x