If you're seeing this message, it means we're having trouble loading external resources on our website.

If you're behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains *.kastatic.org and *.kasandbox.org are unblocked.

Lesson 1: Intro to the coordinate plane

# Graph points review (positive numbers only)

Review graphing points and identifying points on quadrant I of a coordinate plane.  Then, try some practice problems.

### Graphing points in the coordinate plane

Points in the coordinate plane are identified by coordinates given in the form left parenthesis, start color #11accd, x, end color #11accd, comma, start color #1fab54, y, end color #1fab54, right parenthesis.
A coordinate grid is labeled 0 through 9 on the x-axis and the y-axis. A blue arrow moves right along the x-axis. A green arrow moves up along the y-axis.
The x-coordinate represents a value on thestart color #11accd, start text, space, h, o, r, i, z, o, n, t, a, l, end text, end color #11accd axis.
The y-coordinate represents a value on the start color #1fab54, start text, v, e, r, t, i, c, a, l, end text, end color #1fab54 axis.
Example:
Plot the point left parenthesis, 6, comma, 4, right parenthesis.
For left parenthesis, start color #11accd, 6, end color #11accd, comma, start color #1fab54, 4, end color #1fab54, right parenthesis our x-coordinate is start color #11accd, 6, end color #11accd, and our y-coordinate is start color #1fab54, 4, end color #1fab54.
Let's start by going right to start color #11accd, 6, end color #11accd on the x-axis:
A coordinate grid. The x-axis is labeled 1 to 9. The y-axis is labeled 1 to 9. A blue arrow moves right along the x-axis from the origin to the 6.
Now we go up to start color #1fab54, 4, end color #1fab54 on the y-axis, and plot the point left parenthesis, start color #11accd, 6, end color #11accd, comma, start color #1fab54, 4, end color #1fab54, right parenthesis:
A coordinate grid. The x-axis is labeled 1 to 9. The y-axis is labeled 1 to 9. A blue arrow moves right along the x-axis from the origin to the 6. A green arrow moves up 4 units from the 6 on the x-axis to align with 4 on the y-axis. A point labeled (6,4) is plotted at the end of the green arrow.

## Practice set 1: Graphing points

Problem 1A
• Current
Plot the point left parenthesis, 1, comma, 5, right parenthesis.

Want to try more problems like this? Check out this exercise.

## Identifying points

To determine the coordinates (or ordered pair) of a given point, we need to count the start color #11accd, start text, h, o, r, i, z, o, n, t, a, l, end text, end color #11accd and start color #1fab54, start text, v, e, r, t, i, c, a, l, end text, end color #1fab54 distance of the point from the start color #e84d39, start text, o, r, i, g, i, n, space, left parenthesis, 0, comma, space, 0, right parenthesis, end text, end color #e84d39.
A coordinate grid is labeled 0 through 6 on the x-axis and the y-axis. A blue arrow moves right along the x-axis. A green arrow moves up along the y-axis. There is a red point at the origin. A point is plotted 3 units to the right and 1 unit up from the origin.
Example:
Use the following coordinate plane to determine the ordered pair for the given point.
A coordinate grid is labeled 0 through 6 on the x-axis and the y-axis. A point is plotted 3 units to the right and 1 unit up from the origin.
Let's start by counting the distance from left parenthesis, 0, comma, 0, right parenthesis to the given point on the x-axis:
A coordinate grid is labeled 0 through 6 on the x-axis and the y-axis. A point is plotted 3 units to the right and 1 unit up from the origin. A blue arrow moves right along the x-axis from the origin to the 3.
The point is start color #11accd, 3, end color #11accd units to the right of the origin.
Now let's count the distance from left parenthesis, 0, comma, 0, right parenthesis to the given point on the y-axis:
A coordinate grid is labeled 0 through 6 on the x-axis and the y-axis. A point is plotted 3 units to the right and 1 unit up from the origin. A green arrow moves up 1 unit from the 3 on the x-axis to align with the 1 on the y-axis.
The point is start color #1fab54, 1, end color #1fab54 unit above the origin.
The coordinates of the point are left parenthesis, start color #11accd, 3, end color #11accd, comma, start color #1fab54, 1, end color #1fab54, right parenthesis.

## Practice set 2: Identifying points

Problem 2A
• Current
What is the x-coordinate of the point plotted below?
A coordinate grid is labeled 0 through 6 on the x-axis and the y-axis. A point is plotted 4 units to the right and 3 units up from the origin.

Want to try more problems like this? Check out these exercises: Identify coordinates
Identify points

## Want to join the conversation?

• Graph points are easy and fun to do.
• Once you understand them they aren't hard
• why does the zero go second?
for example: (2,0)
why not (0,2) ?
• because it is 2 down, 0 up.
• Coordinate grids are so easy.
• I know right!?
• They call this a challenge. well... it wasn't
• why do we do the x axis before the y axis
• x comes before y in the alphabet, but I honestly don't know.
• how does this work im confused?
• so what you do is you find the number on the x line and put that number down then you find the number on the y line and put that number down
• I don't get this
• ill tell you how to remember if y axis or x axis comes first in the alphabets first x comes then y so first x always :>