7.1 Coordinates 7.1.1 Coordinates 1. The Cartesian coordinate system is a number plane with a horizontal line (x-axis) drawn at right angles to a vertical line (y- axis), intersecting at a point called origin. Cartesian plane x-axis Origin (0, 0)2. It is used to locate the position of a point in reference to the x-axis and y-axis. 3. The coordinate of any point are written as an ordered pair (x, y). The first number is the x-coordinate and the second number is the y-coordinate of the point. & 9) x-coordinate ¢ This means the point is x units from the y-axis y-coordinate * This means the point is y units from the x-axisExample: y 6 Aus | AG,4) 3 ! = | 4 units 1 ! I < t +—+-_+++ +—++—_+—-++ ++» 6 -§ -4 3 O] 4123 456x 2 units ! n-ne ap her B(-5,-2) 5 units The coordinates of points A and B are (3, 4) and (-5, -2) respectively. This means that point A is located 3 units from they-axis and 4 units from the x-axis, whereas point B is located 5 units on the left from the y-axis and 2 units from the x-axis. 4. The coordinate of the origin O is (0, 0).7.1.2 Scales for the Coordinate Axes 1. The scale for an axis is the number of units represented by a specific length along the axes. 2. The scale on a coordinate is usually written in the form of a ratio. Example: A scale of 1: 2 means one unit on the graph represents 2 units of the actual length. 3. Both coordinate axes on the Cartesian plane may have (a) the same scales, or (b) different scales.Example: 1 unit on the x-axis represents 2 units. 1 unit on the y-axis represents 1 unit. Therefore the scale for x-axis is 1: 2 and the scale for y-axis is 1:1. Coordinates of: P (4, 3) and Q (10, 5).7.1.3 Distance between Two Points 1. Finding the distance between two points on a Cartesian plane is the same as finding the length of the straight line joining them. 2. The distance between two points can be calculated by using Pythagoras’ theorem.Example: i ae B (2,-3) AB = 2 -(-4) =2+4= 6 units BC=5-(-3)=5+3=8 units By Pythagoras’ theorem, AC? = AB? + AC? = 6? + 8? AC = /100 = 10 units a a x7.1.4 Midpoint The midpoint of a straight line joining two points is the middle point that divides the straight line into two equal halves. midpoint | ° Ht . H * . : ate. yt Midpoint ,4Z = ( 4 se | Example: The coordinate of the midpoint of (7, -5) and (-3, 11) are ( 7+(-8) —5+11 ) bo bo