Question

Explain how to plot an ordered pair on a grid

Answer 1

Identify the x and y coordinates; they will be placed along the x and y axis. The x axis is horizontal whilst the y axis is vertical. You will be given an ordered pair (0,0) with the first number being the x coordinate and the second y. You will locate the x axis and plot the x coordinate according to negative or positive (left or right). You will move two spaces to the left of the origin if you have negative two, and two to the right of it if it were positive. From there identify the y coordinate. If it is negative you will move that amount downwards from the x coordinate. If it's positive you move upwards.

So if you had (2, 7)
Locate the origin. Move two spaces to the right along the x axis. Move 7 spaces upwards from the previous point, and plot a dot.

Answer 2

The first number in the ordered pair is the x-coordinate. If it is positive go that many units to the right of the origin(0,0) if it is negative go that many units left of the origin.

The second number is the y-coordinate. If it is positive go that many units up from the origin. If it is negative go that many units down from the origin.

For example: to graph the ordered pair of (3,4), I would go 3 units to the right and 4 units up.

An easy way to remember is to think of it as going to an elevator first you have to walk right or left to the elevator(x-coordinate) then the elevator goes up or down(y-coordinate).