Get To The Point

The Cartesian System

 Mr. Descartes divided the Cartesian plane or the Coordinate
plane into 4 parts. Each part is called a Quadrant.

y axis
6
5
Hey, I am Molly! 4
Meet 3
Mr. Descartes, the Quadrant 2
Quadrant
mathematician!
1
x axis
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6
-1
-2
-3
Quadrant -4 Quadrant
-5
-6
 y axis
The Quadrants are named from 6
the first to the fourth ordered
5
in the anti-clockwise direction.
4
Quadrant 2
3 Quadrant 1
2
1
x axis
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6
-1
-2
Quadrant 3 -3 Quadrant 4
-4
-5
-6
 The lines that divide the plane are together called Coordinate Axes.
The horizontal line is the x-axis and the vertical line is the y-axis.

y axis
6 Horizontal means
‘side to side’.
5
Vertical means 4
‘up and down’ 3
2
1
x axis
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
 • Mr. Descartes decided to show a
point in the squares of the
coordinate plane.

• But how to write the location of

5 the point?
4
(2,3) • What to write first?
3

2
• The number of horizontal squares or
the number of vertical squares?
1

0 1 2 3 4 5 • It was finally decided to write the

horizontal squares first and then the
vertical squares.
 1. Each point is called
the coordinate point.

2. The point (0,0) is

called the origin.

3. The x coordinate is
x coordinate y coordinate called the abscissa.

4. The y coordinate is
5 units called the ordinate.
(5,4)

4 units

(0,0)
Thank you Mr. Descartes!
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The KED program and the Learning Portal ™ are property of Kunskapsskolan Education.

All copying, redistribution or reprint in full or electronic form without prior written permission from Kunskapsskolan Education is strictly prohibited. Kunskapsskolan, The KED
program and the Learning Portal ™ are property of Kunskapsskolan Education.