The Coordinate Plane

Study Sheet

The Coordinate Plane

Plotting ordered pairs

Across Then Up

Concept
The Big Idea
xy(2, 3)

An ordered pair (x,y)(x, y) is a set of directions from the origin: go across xx, then up yy. The order matters — (2,5)(2, 5) and (5,2)(5, 2) are different places.

Example
Plotting (2, 3)

From the origin, move 22 right and then 33 up.

In Plain Terms & More Examples

Concept
In plain terms

An ordered pair (x,y)(x, y) means go across xx first, then up yy. Swapping the numbers lands you somewhere else.

Example
Plotting (4,1)(4, 1)

From the origin, move 44 right and 11 up.

Example
Plotting (0,3)(0, 3)

Move 00 across (stay on the vertical axis) and 33 up.