Grade 5 Mathematics
A coordinate plane is like a map that uses two number lines to describe exact locations!
We use ordered pairs written as (x, y) to tell someone exactly where a point is located.
X-axis: The horizontal (across) number line. Goes left to right.
Y-axis: The vertical (up/down) number line. Goes up and down.
Origin: The point (0, 0) where the axes cross. This is where we START!
"Run then Jump!" or "Across the Hall, Up the Elevator!"
X comes first (go RIGHT), then Y (go UP)
Start at the origin (0, 0)
Go RIGHT 4 units along the x-axis (the orange dashed line)
Go UP 3 units (the blue dashed line)
Mark the point! This is (4, 3)
WRONG: For (4, 3), going UP 4 first then RIGHT 3. That would plot (3, 4)!
RIGHT: X always comes FIRST - go RIGHT first, then UP.
Remember: (x, y) is like (across, up) or (run, jump)
To read coordinates:
Point A: Go across to 2, up to 4 = (2, 4)
Point B: On the y-axis at 2 = (0, 2)
Point C: On the x-axis at 5 = (5, 0)
Notice: Points on an axis have a 0 in their coordinates!
1. Write the ordered pair for each description:
a) 3 units right, 5 units up: (, )
b) 6 units right, 2 units up: (, )
c) 4 units right, on the x-axis: (, )
2. Describe how to plot each point:
a) (1, 7): Start at origin, go right _____, then up _____
b) (5, 0): Start at origin, go right _____, then up _____
3. What is the x-coordinate of (8, 3)? _____ What is the y-coordinate? _____