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


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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