Coordinate Plane Vocabulary

Front

What is a coordinate plane?

Back

A two-dimensional space formed by two perpendicular number lines called axes.

Front

What is an ordered pair or coordinate pair?

Back

A pair of numbers, (x, y), that describes the location of a point in the coordinate plane, where the x-coordinate gives the point’s horizontal distance from the origin and the y-coordinate gives the point’s vertical distance from the origin.

Front

What is the origin in a coordinate plane?

Back

The point (0, 0) in the coordinate plane where the x-axis and y-axis intersect.

Front

What is the x-axis?

Back

The horizontal number line in a coordinate plane.

Front

What is the x-coordinate?

Back

The first number in an ordered pair. It tells the point’s horizontal distance from the origin.

Front

What is the y-axis?

Back

The vertical number line in a coordinate plane.

Front

What is the y-coordinate?

Back

The second number in an ordered pair. It tells the point’s vertical distance from the origin.

Front

What does horizontal mean?

Back

Positioned side to side rather than up and down.

Front

What does it mean to plot?

Back

To mark where something is, for example on a map, graph, or number line.

Front

What does vertical mean?

Back

Positioned up and down rather than side to side.