Cartesian Plane - Quick Reference

Parts of the Cartesian Plane

  • Synonyms: Rectangular Coordinate System, Cartesian Coordinate System, Cartesian Plane, xy-plane

  • Components: X-axis (horizontal), Y-axis (vertical)

  • Origin: intersection of axes at (0,0)(0,0)

  • Quadrants:

    • I: (+x,+y)(+x, +y)

    • II: (−x,+y)(-x, +y)

    • III: (−x,−y)(-x, -y)

    • IV: (+x,−y)(+x, -y)

  • Named after Rene Descartes

Coordinates and Ordered Pairs

  • x-coordinate (abscissa): distance left/right from the y-axis

  • y-coordinate (ordinate): distance up/down from the x-axis

  • Ordered pair: (x,y)(x, y)

  • Origin: (0,0)(0, 0)

Location of a Point

  • Each point on the Cartesian Plane represents a location, written as (x,y)(x, y)

  • Examples: (−3,1)(-3,1), (2,3)(2,3), (−1.5,2.5)(-1.5, 2.5), (−1.5,−2.5)(-1.5,-2.5)

Plotting Points (examples)

  • Plot the point: (4,3)(4,3)

  • Plot the point: (−2,3)(-2,3)

Practice: Plot the following points

  • A: (2,−3)(2,-3)

  • B: (4,−5)(4,-5)

  • C: (2,0)(2,0)

  • D: (0,−2)(0,-2)

  • E: (−3,−2)(-3,-2)

  • F: (5,0)(5,0)

  • G: (−3,4)(-3,4)

  • H: (4,5)(4,5)

  • I: (−1,3)(-1,3)

  • J: (−4,−5)(-4,-5)