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).

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    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.

• 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.

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    How Do You Plot Points in the Coordinate Plane?

    Knowing how to plot ordered pairs is an essential part of graphing functions. In this tutorial, you'll see how to take an ordered pair and plot it on the coordinate plane. Take a look!

• Write and evaluate numerical expressions involving whole-number exponents.

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    How Do You Square a Number?

    Want to square a number? Just take the number and multiply it by itself! If you square an integer, you get a perfect square! Check out squaring in this tutorial!

• Derive the equations of ellipses and hyperbolas given the foci, using the fact that the sum or difference of distances from the foci is constant.

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    What is an Ellipse?

    An ellipse is a specific shape with some very neat pieces! In this tutorial, you'll learn multiple definitions of an ellipse and see all its different parts.