What is the Coordinate Plane?

What is the Coordinate Plane?

Note:

You can't graph a function or plot ordered pairs without a coordinate plane! Learn about the coordinate plane by watching this tutorial.

Keywords:

  • definition
  • coordinate plane
  • x-coordinate
  • y-coordinate
  • graph
  • plot
  • cartesian

Background Tutorials

  • Use a pair of perpendicular number lines, called axes, to define a coordinate system, with the intersection of the lines (the origin) arranged to coincide with the 0 on each line and a given point in the plane located by using an ordered pair of numbers, called its coordinates. Understand that the first number indicates how far to travel from the origin in the direction of one axis, and the second number indicates how far to travel in the direction of the second axis, with the convention that the names of the two axes and the coordinates correspond (e.g., x-axis and x-coordinate, y-axis and y-coordinate).

      • What is the X-Axis?What is the X-Axis?

      What is the X-Axis?

      To graph a function or plot an ordered pair, you need to use a coordinate plane, so you should learn all about it! In this tutorial, you'll learn about the x-axis and see where it's located in the coordinate plane.

      • What is the Y-Axis?What is the Y-Axis?

      What is the Y-Axis?

      To graph a function or plot an ordered pair, you need to use a coordinate plane, so you should learn all about it! In this tutorial, you'll learn about the y-axis and see where it's located in the coordinate plane.

  • Find and position integers and other rational numbers on a horizontal or vertical number line diagram; find and position pairs of integers and other rational numbers on a coordinate plane.

  • Understand that the graph of an equation in two variables is the set of all its solutions plotted in the coordinate plane, often forming a curve (which could be a line).

      • How Do You Graph a Linear Equation by Making a Table?How Do You Graph a Linear Equation by Making a Table?

      How Do You Graph a Linear Equation by Making a Table?

      Graphing a function? It would be really helpful if you had a table of values that fit your equation. You could plot those values on a coordinate plane and connect the point to make your graph. See it all in this tutorial!

Further Exploration

  • Understand signs of numbers in ordered pairs as indicating locations in quadrants of the coordinate plane; recognize that when two ordered pairs differ only by signs, the locations of the points are related by reflections across one or both axes.

      • What are Quadrants in the Coordinate Plane?What are Quadrants in the Coordinate Plane?

      What are Quadrants in the Coordinate Plane?

      Did you know that there are four quadrants that help make up the coordinate plane? Learn about these quadrants, and what ordered pairs are located in each, by watching this tutorial!

  • Find and position integers and other rational numbers on a horizontal or vertical number line diagram; find and position pairs of integers and other rational numbers on a coordinate plane.

  • Understand that the graph of an equation in two variables is the set of all its solutions plotted in the coordinate plane, often forming a curve (which could be a line).

      • How Do You Graph a Linear Equation by Making a Table?How Do You Graph a Linear Equation by Making a Table?

      How Do You Graph a Linear Equation by Making a Table?

      Graphing a function? It would be really helpful if you had a table of values that fit your equation. You could plot those values on a coordinate plane and connect the point to make your graph. See it all in this tutorial!