Points and their Coordinates

y Cartesian Plane
Ren Descartes (1596-1650)

y axis
x

origin

x axis

The Cartesian Plane is divided into four quadrants.

II

I
x

III

IV

Four Quadrants y II I
x

III

IV

Plotting Points in the Cartesian Plane (5, 6) is an example of an ordered pair.

y

y coordinate
x coordinate

(5, 6)
6
x

Plotting Points in the Cartesian Plane

(5, 6) is an example of an ordered pair. y
y coordinate
x coordinate

(5, 6)

(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.

A( 4, 6)
y
A( 4, 6)

B(2, 3)
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.

E(5, 0)
y
F(0, 6)

F(0, 6)
G( 7, 0) H(0, 3)
G( 7, 0)

E(5, 0)

H(0, 3)

These points all lie on the axes, not in quadrants. What do you notice about their coordinates?