2-D CARTESIAN CO-ORDINATE

Objectives
Students should be able to
 define a cartesian plane
 recognize x and y coordinates
 draw up table of values for linear function
 plot graphs of linear function

DEFINITION: The cartesian plane is a two-dimensional coordinate plane formed by the intersection of two
perpendicular lines. The horizontal line is known as the X-axis, and the vertical line is known as the Y-axis. The
coordinate point (x, y) on the Cartesian plane says that the horizontal distance of the point from the origin is x,
and the vertical distance is y. If the sign of x is positive, the point is on the right of the origin; otherwise, it is on
the left. Similarly, if the sign is positive for y, the point is y points above the origin else it is y points below it.

How to Plot the points in the Cartesian plane?

Let us take a cartesian coordinate (2, 3).

To plot the point (2, 3) in the cartesian plane,

PRACTICE PROBLEMS ON CARTESIAN PLANE
Graph the following ordered pairs in the cartesian plane:

1. (7, 4)
2. (-5, 2)
3. (4, -5)
4. (-6, -3)

LINEAR FUNCTION

linear function is defined as a function that has either one or two variables without exponents. It is a function
that graphs to a straight line.

A linear function is a function that forms a straight line in a graph. It is generally a polynomial function whose
degree is utmost 1 or 0.

y = f(x) = mx + c
It has one independent and one dependent variable. The independent variable is x and the dependent one is y. c
is the constant term or the y-intercept and is also the value of the dependent variable when x = 0. m is the
coefficient of the independent variable known as slope or gradient which gives the rate of change of the
dependent variable.

THE GRAPH OF A LINEAR FUNCTION

Graph linear functions using tables

A helpful first step in graphing a function is to make a table of values.

When making a table, it is a good idea to include negative values, positive values, and zero to ensure
that you do have a linear function.

EXAMPLE:
Make a table of values for f(x)=3x+2
X -2 -1 0 1 2
f(x)

(Note that your table of values may be different from someone else’s. You may each choose different
numbers for x.)
Now graph f(x)=3x+2

X -2 -1 0 1 2
f(x) -4 -1 2 5 8
(Plot the points.

Since the points lie on a line, use a straight edge to draw the line.

HOME WORK

1. Plot the of Graph f(x)=−x+1

2. Find the y-intercept and gradient or slope of y = 5x – 7