Plotting Points on the Coordinate Plane
Learn how to mark exact locations on a coordinate grid using ordered pairs!
What is Plotting a Point?
Plotting a point means marking an exact location on the coordinate plane using coordinates.
Key Idea: Given an ordered pair (x, y), we find and mark that specific spot on the grid.
This is the reverse of reading coordinates — instead of looking at a point and finding its coordinates, we start with coordinates and find where to put the point!
Russian Vocabulary:
- Построение точки — plotting a point
- Отметить точку — mark a point
- Сетка — grid
Interactive visualization — available in the full lesson
Step-by-Step Method for Plotting Points
1 Start at the Origin
Always begin at point (0, 0) — where the axes cross.
2 Move Horizontally (x-value)
Right if x is positive (+), Left if x is negative (−)
3 Move Vertically (y-value)
Up if y is positive (+), Down if y is negative (−)
4 Mark and Label
Place a dot and write the point's name with coordinates.
Memory Trick: "Run before you Jump!" — Move along x (run horizontally) first, then y (jump vertically)!
Interactive visualization — available in the full lesson