Cartesian Plane and Graphing Skills Cartesian coordinates can be used to pinpoint where you are on a map or graph. Cartesian CoordinatesUsing Cartesian Coordinates you mark a point on a graph by how far along and how far up it is: The point (12,5) is 12 units along, and 5 units up. X and Y Axis The left-right (horizontal) direction is commonly called X. The up-down (vertical) direction is commonly called Y. Put them together on a graph ... ... and you are ready to go Where they cross over is the "0" point, you measure everything from there. The X Axis runs horizontally through zero The Y Axis runs vertically through zero Axis: The reference line from which distances are measured. The plural of Axis is Axes, and is pronounced ax-eez Example: Point (6,4) is 6 units across (in the x direction), and 4 units up (in the y direction) So (6,4) means: Go along 6 and then go up 4 then "plot the dot". And you can remember which axis is which by: x is A CROSS, so x is ACROSS the page. |
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