Math for Computer Science
4 | Coordinate systems
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Examples
Practice Problems
Introduction
What is a coordinate system?
- A coordinate system uses numbers, or coordinates, to describe locations.
- The coordinate plane consists of a horizontal number line, the x-axis, and a vertical number line, the y-axis.
- Points on the coordinate plane are given in ordered pairs of the form
(x, y). - The point where the x-axis and y-axis intersect is called the origin.
- The coordinates at the origin are (0, 0).
Examples
x- and y-coordinates
Q: Classify the x- and y-coordinates as positive, negative or zero.
A: The x-coordinate of the blue point is positive. The y-coordinate of the blue point is negative.
Ordered pairs
Q: What are the coordinates of the blue point?
A: The coordinates of the blue point are (3, -2).
Ordered pair translations
Q: Translate the blue point up 6 units.
A: If the blue point were translated up 6 units, its new location would be (3, 4).
Practice | The Coordinate Plane
Click "Create Report" upon completion of any practice set to document your progress: Example