The Coordinate Plane

Topic 4.1.1

1
Topic
The Coordinate Plane
4.1.1

California Standard: What it means for you:

6.0 Students graph a linear You’ll refresh your knowledge of
equation and compute the x- and y- plotting coordinates.
intercepts (e.g., graph 2x + 6y = 4).
They are also able to sketch the
region defined by linear inequality
(e.g., they sketch the region defined
by 2x + 6y < 4). Key Words:
• coordinate
• horizontal
• vertical
• point of intersection
• origin

2
Topic
The Coordinate Plane
4.1.1

Plotting coordinates isn’t

anything new to you — you’ve
had lots of practice in earlier
grades.

This Topic starts right at the beginning though,

to remind you of the earlier work.

3
Topic
The Coordinate Plane
4.1.1

Coordinates are Used to Locate Points on a Plane

A plane is a flat surface, kind of like a blackboard,

a tabletop, or a sheet of paper.

However, a plane extends indefinitely in all directions

— it goes on and on forever.

4
Topic
The Coordinate Plane
4.1.1

Planes are made up of an infinite number of points.

To locate one of these points, two perpendicular number

lines are drawn in the plane.
y-axis
The horizontal number line
is called the x-axis.

The vertical number line x-axis

is called the y-axis.
origin
The point of intersection of the
two number lines is called the origin.
5
Topic
The Coordinate Plane
4.1.1

You can locate each point in the plane using an ordered

pair of numbers (x, y), where x represents the horizontal
distance and y represents the vertical distance of the point

from the origin.

The numbers in an ordered pair are often called coordinates.

6
Topic
The Coordinate Plane
4.1.1
Example 1

Plot the coordinates (3, 4) on a graph.

Solution
(3, 4)

(3, 4)
4 units up
x-coordinate y-coordinate 3 units
across

7
Solution follows…
Topic
The Coordinate Plane
4.1.1

Don’t Forget

The coordinates of
origin
the origin are (0, 0).

8
Topic
The Coordinate Plane
4.1.1
Guided Practice
In Exercises 1–4, plot the coordinates on the coordinate plane.

1. (4, 0)
(–2, 5)

2. (–2, 5) (8, 2)
(4, 0)

3. (8, 2) (5, –2)

4. (5, –2)
9
Solution follows…
Topic
The Coordinate Plane
4.1.1
Guided Practice
Use the graph below to answer Exercises 5–6.

5. What are the coordinates of point A? (3, 1)

6. What are the coordinates of point B? (–5, 4)

10
Solution follows…
Topic
The Coordinate Plane
4.1.1

You May Need to Plot More Than One Point

You can often join up several plotted points to create

the outline of a shape.

11
Topic
The Coordinate Plane
4.1.1
Example 2
Draw a coordinate plane and plot and label the points
M (3, 4), A (–3, 4), C (–3, –4), and V (3, –4).

Connect each pair of consecutive points and find the

perimeter of the resulting quadrilateral.

12
Solution follows…
Topic
The Coordinate Plane
4.1.1
Example 2
Draw a coordinate plane and plot and label the points
M (3, 4), A (–3, 4), C (–3, –4), and V (3, –4).
Solution
(–3, 4) A M (3, 4)
A negative x-coordinate
means the point is left
of the y-axis.

A negative y-coordinate
means the point is below

the x-axis.
(–3, –4) C V (3, –4)

13
Solution continues…
Topic
The Coordinate Plane
4.1.1
Example 2

Solution (continued) (–3, 4) A M (3, 4)

The length of each square on the

coordinate grid represents one unit
of measure. So, the quadrilateral
is 8 units long and 6 units wide.
(–3, –4) C V (3, –4)

Perimeter (distance around the edge) = 2(6) + 2(8)

= 12 + 16
= 28 units
14
Topic
The Coordinate Plane
4.1.1
Guided Practice

Work out Exercise 7 by plotting

and labeling the points on the A
coordinate plane.
B E
7. A (0, 5), B (–5, 2), C (–5, –4),
D (5, –4), and E (5, 2).

Name the figure formed

when the points are
C D
connected in order.
The figure formed is a pentagon

15
Solution follows…
Topic
The Coordinate Plane
4.1.1
Guided Practice

Work out Exercise 8 by plotting

and labeling the points on the
coordinate plane.
B A

8. A (3, 3), B (–3, 3), C (–3, –3),

and D (3, –3).

Connect the points in order

and then name and find C D

the area of the figure formed.

The figure is a square with a side
length of 6 units, so Area = 36 units2
16
Solution follows…
Topic
The Coordinate Plane
4.1.1
Guided Practice

Work out Exercise 9 by plotting

and labeling the points on the H A
coordinate plane.

9. A (2, 5), B (2, –2), C (5, –2),

D (5, –4), E (–5, –4), F (–5, –2),
G (–2, –2), and H (–2, 5). F G B C

Connect the points in order

E D
and find the perimeter of
the figure formed.
Perimeter = 38 units
17
Solution follows…
Topic
The Coordinate Plane
4.1.1
Independent Practice

1. What is the difference between the x-axis

and the y-axis?
The x-axis is horizontal and the y-axis is vertical.

2. Explain in words how to graph the coordinates (5, 3).

Start at the origin, and move 5 units right and 3 units up,
then plot the point.

18
Solution follows…
Topic
The Coordinate Plane
4.1.1
Independent Practice
Use the graph below to answer Exercises 3–7.

3. What are the coordinates of point A?

(0, 3)

4. What are the coordinates of point B?

(3, 0)

5. What are the coordinates of point C?

(1, 4)

6. What are the coordinates of point D?

(–3, 2)

7. What are the coordinates of point E?

(3, –4)
19
Solution follows…
Topic
The Coordinate Plane
4.1.1
Independent Practice

In Exercises 8–11, plot the coordinates on the coordinate plane.

8. The origin

9. (2, 1) 10 9
8

10. (–4, 1)
11

11. (3, –2)

20
Solution follows…
Topic
The Coordinate Plane
4.1.1
Independent Practice

12. Plot and label the following points:

A (–1, –2),
B
B (2, 4),
D E
C(5, –2),
D (–2, 2),
and E (6, 2).
A C

Connect the points in order,

then connect E to A, and
name the figure formed.
The figure formed is a star.
21
Solution follows…
Topic
The Coordinate Plane
4.1.1

Round Up
That Topic should have felt quite familiar.
Remember that coordinate pairs always list
the x-coordinate first, then the y-coordinate
— and watch out for any negative numbers.
In the next Topic you’ll look at each part of the
coordinate plane in more detail.

22