Points and their Coordinates

y
Cartesian Plane
René Descartes (1596-1650)

y axis

origin
x axis
The Cartesian Plane is
divided into four y
quadrants.

II I

III IV
 Plotting Points in the Cartesian Plane
(5, 6) is an example of an ordered pair.
y

y coordinate (5, 6)
x coordinate
6

x
5
Plotting Points in the Cartesian Plane
(5, 6) is an example of an ordered
y
pair.

y coordinate (5, 6)
x coordinate

x
(x, y) It is like entering a hotel …
y
up the elevator
in the door
(– 3, 4)
(– 3, 4)
x
up 4
left 3
 Plot the following points.
A(– 4, 6) y

B(2, – 3) A(– 4, 6)

C(– 6, – 4) D(7, 3)

D(7, 3)
x

C(– 6, – 4) B(2, – 3)
These points all lie in different quadrants.
What do you notice about their coordinates?
Plot the following points.
E(5, 0) y

F(0, 6)
F(0, 6)

G(– 7, 0)
E(5, 0)
H(0, – 3) x
G(– 7, 0)
H(0, – 3)

These points all lie on the axes, not in quadrants.

What do you notice about their coordinates?