Watch: Coordinates
A point on a grid has two numbers to identify its position. These numbers are known as coordinates.
Coordinates are always written as the number of steps across first, then the number of steps up or down.
Grids have two axes. The horizontal axis is called the x-axis and the vertical axis is called the y-axis. These axes can be used to find a point on a grid.
Example 1
What are the coordinates of the circle?
Step 1 - Go along the x-axis to see which number the circle is in line with - 3.
Step 2 - Now see which number the circle is opposite to on the y-axis - 4.
Step 3 - Write the numbers as coordinates (3, 4).
What are the coordinates of the square?
Step 1 - Read which number the square is opposite to on the x-axis - 5.
Step 2 - Now see which number the square is in line with on the y axis - 1.
Step 3 - Write the numbers as coordinates (5, 1).
Example 2
Hassan thinks that the triangle鈥檚 coordinates are (4, 2). Do you agree?
The first thing you need to do is to read the triangle鈥檚 coordinates for yourself.
The triangle is opposite 2 on the x-axis and in line with 4 on the y-axis.
That should be written as (2, 4). So Hassan is wrong because he has mixed up the order of the x and y-axis.
Activities
Activity 1
Activity 2
Quiz
NEW! Play Guardians: Defenders of Mathematica - the Halloween update. gameNEW! Play Guardians: Defenders of Mathematica - the Halloween update
Experience Mathematica as you鈥檝e never seen it before, with all-new backgrounds and costumes for Halloween. Available for a limited time only. Use your maths skills to save the day before it's too late!
More on Co-ordinate
Find out more by working through a topic
- count2 of 3
- count3 of 3