To plot the point for a library at (2, -3), one moves 2 units to the right of the origin and 3 units down on a Cartesian coordinate system. This system uses horizontal and vertical axes to represent positions in two-dimensional space.
The student's question involves plotting a point on a coordinate system.
To plot the point for a library at (2, -3), one would start at the origin (0,0), move 2 units to the right (positive x-direction) and then 3 units down (negative y-direction).
The coordinate system is set up with two perpendicular axes:
the horizontal axis (x-axis) and the vertical axis (y-axis), where movements to the right and upwards from the origin represent positive values, and movements to the left and downwards represent negative values.
To further clarify the process:
Begin at the origin (0,0), the point where the x-axis and y-axis intersect.
Move horizontally to the right 2 units since the x-coordinate is positive.
From that point, move vertically downwards 3 units because the y-coordinate is negative.
Mark this point with a dot or a cross and label it accordingly, in this case, as the library.
Graphs and maps often use this Cartesian coordinate system to show the location of points in two-dimensional space.
Similarly, this system can be extended to three dimensions by adding a z-coordinate for the third axis.