Functional Skills: Coordinates

Points can be plotted and lines can be drawn on a grids similar to that seen.

A grid is made by $2$ lines crossing called axes, meeting at a point in the middle called the origin.

The $x$-axis is the horizontal axis (left to right) and the $y$-axis is the vertical axis (bottom to top).

Coordinates are described by a pair of coordinates $(textcolor{red}{x}, , textcolor{blue}{y})$ and represented by a dot or cross. The $x$ coordinate is always written first.

The origin has coordinates $(0, 0)$.

Example: What are the coordinates of the point A on the grid?

For the $x$ coordinate, go up from A to the $x$-axis. Read off the number:

$textcolor{red}{2}$

For the $y$ coordinate, go across from A to the $y$-axis. Read off the number:

$textcolor{blue}{-3}$

So, the coordinates of A are:

$(textcolor{red}{2} , , textcolor{blue}{-3} )$

Example: Plot the point $(1, , 3)$ on the grid.

Move right from the origin to find $textcolor{red}{1}$ on the $x$-axis.

Move up from $1$ until you are level with $textcolor{blue}{3}$ on the $y$-axis.

Mark this position with a dot or a cross, and label it $(textcolor{red}{1}, , textcolor{blue}{3})$.

You can connect points on a grid to make lines or 2D shapes.

e.g. the grid shows a triangle drawn by plotting $3$ points and connecting them with straight lines.

We call the triangle $ABC$ after the letters of its corners.

Note: You may be given dimensions in a question and have to use these to plot points and create 2D shapes.