How do you plot points in the Cartesian coordinate system? - Answers

The Cartesian plane consists of a horizontal axis (usually called the x-axis), and a vertical axis (usually the y-axis) which meet at right angles at a point called the Origin. The positive direction of the x-axis is to the right while that of the y-axis is up along the paper. Every point in the Cartesian plane is assigned two coordinates: the x-coordinate (also called the abscissa) and the y-coordinate (the ordinate). These are often written in the form (x, y). To plot the point P = (x,y), you start from the origin. Move x units along the x-axis. From that point you move y units along the y-axis. The end point is where P is to be plotted. If the value of x or y is negative, you move in the negative direction of the axes.