Cartesian Coordinate Plane – Exploration

A coordinate plane is formed by the intersection of two number lines, one is horizontal and the other is
vertical. The horizontal number line is the x-axis and the vertical number line is the y-axis. These two number
lines meet where they are both zero, at a point called the origin. When the two number lines meet they make
four quadrants. These quadrants are numbered 1 – 4, moving counter-clock wise starting with the upper left
corner. Below is a diagram showing the different parts of a coordinate plane.

Y- Axis
Vertical Number Line
Negative – 0 - Positive

1st Quadrant
2nd Quadrant
“Quadrant I”
“Quadrant II”
X- Positive
X- Negative
Y - Positive
Y - Positive

X- Axis
Horizontal Number Line
Negative – 0 – Positive

3rdQuadrant
“Quadrant III”
X- Negative
Y - Negative
4thQuadrant
“Quadrant IV”
X- Positive
Y - Negative

ORIGIN
Point (0, 0)

In each quadrant there is a grid indicating the units for both the x- and y-axis. This grid helps to identify points
or coordinates that have an x- and y- component. We write points as ordered pairs in the form (x, y) where
the first number tells you where you are with respect to the x-axis and the second number tells you where you
are with respect to the y-axis. There are some rules that are handy to remember for moving on the
coordinate plane:
X-Axis Y-Axis
Negative Left Down
Zero On Axis
Positive Right Up
For example the point (5, 2) is Right 5, Up 2. The point (-3, 0) is Left 3 and stays on the axis. One important thing to
know when plotting individual points is that they should be labeled with a capital letter.
CCSSM: 6.RP.A.3, 6.NS.C.6 Unit 2: Functions Lesson 2.0 – Cartesian Plane Introduction
TRY IT!
Plot the given points on the coord inate plane then describe the location of the point (i.e. which
quadrant the point is in or if it is on the axis or the origin).

1) P(5, 5) 6) V(1.5, 4)

2) Q(-1, 5) 7) W(3, -2.5)

3) S(0, 0) 8) R(-3, 0)

4) T(-3, -4) 9) Z(6, -6)

5) U(0, 6) 10) N(-3, 6)

Give the coordinates of the point and describe its location.

11) A 16) F

12) B 17) G

13) C 18) H

14) D 19) J

15) E 20) K

Try to answer these questions regarding coordinates.

21) Which quadrant would the ordered pair (-3, -2) be in?

22) A point is located eight units down from the origin and five units to the right, what is its coordinates?

23) Amy described the point W(-6, 6) as, “6 units to the left of the origin and 6 units up.” What mistake did she
make?

CCSSM: 6.RP.A.3, 6.NS.C.6 Unit 2: Functions Lesson 2.0 – Cartesian Plane Introduction
 24) Write and plot a point with the following characteristics:
a. When x = 0.

b. When y = 0.

c. On the y-axis.

d. On the x-axis.

e. What do you notice?

25) What is true about the ordered pair for any point on the y-axis?

26) What is true about the ordered pair for any point on the x-axis?

27) Astronauts us a coordinate system to describe the locations of objects they photograph from space. The
equator is 0o latitude. The prime meridian is 00 longitude. The names and coordinates of some lakes
photographed from space are given. Use the map to determine on which continent each lake is located.

a. Lake Kulundinskoye: (80, 53) d. Lake Viedma: (-73, -50)

b. Lake Champlain (-73, 45) e. Lake Saint Clair: (-83, 43)

c. Lake Van: (43, 39) f. Starnberger Lake: (12, 48)

g. What would the prime meridian (which is 0o longitude) be on a Cartesian plane?

h. If the equator is 0o latitude what would it be on a Cartesian plane?

CCSSM: 6.RP.A.3, 6.NS.C.6 Unit 2: Functions Lesson 2.0 – Cartesian Plane Introduction
Now looking at special sets of points.

What if we have a group of points we wish to plot? Is there a special way to list a large grouping of points besides (#, #)
over and over again?

Plot these points on the coordinate plane:

(2, -4) (-1, -5)
(2, 1) (2, 2)
(-3, -5) (-5, -5)
(2, 8) (3,-5)
(7, -5) (2, -6)

a) What do you notice?

b) Are there any dots you naturally wish to connect?

c) What do those points you want to connect have in common?

d) Can you take the groups of points you wish to connect

and list them together?

CCSSM: 6.RP.A.3, 6.NS.C.6 Unit 2: Functions Lesson 2.0 – Cartesian Plane Introduction