Plotting Points on a Coordinate Plane

Plotting points on a coordinate plane is a fun way to see how things connect in math. Let’s go through the steps together!

What is the Coordinate Plane?

A coordinate plane has two lines we call axes.

• The first line is the horizontal axis (x-axis).
• The second line is the vertical axis (y-axis).

Where these two lines meet is known as the origin (0, 0).

Every point on the plane has a name called an ordered pair (x, y). Here’s what that means:

• x tells you how far to go right or left on the x-axis.
• y tells you how far to go up or down on the y-axis.

How to Plot Points

1. Find the Coordinates: Let’s say we want to plot the point (3, 2).

   • The first number (3) is the x-coordinate.
   • The second number (2) is the y-coordinate.

2. Look for the x-Value: Start at the origin (0, 0) and move to the right along the x-axis until you get to 3.

3. Find the y-Value: From the point (3, 0), move straight up to 2 on the y-axis.

4. Mark the Point: Put a dot where you stop. This dot is (3, 2).

Example of Plotting More Points

Now, let’s look at a simple equation, y = 2x. We can find points by using different x-values:

• If x = 0: then y = 2(0) = 0. This gives us the point (0, 0).

• If x = 1: then y = 2(1) = 2. This gives us the point (1, 2).

• If x = 2: then y = 2(2) = 4. This gives us the point (2, 4).

• If x = 3: then y = 2(3) = 6. This gives us the point (3, 6).

Connecting the Dots

After you plot all the points, take a ruler and draw a straight line through them. This line shows the linear relationship from the equation.

By following these steps, you will easily plot points and see how they relate on a coordinate grid! Have fun graphing!