The Cartesian

Plane

The Cartesian Plane

y
5
4
3
2
1
x
-5

-4

-3

-2

-1

1
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5

The Cartesian Plane

The

Cartesian plane or
number plane is formed by
intersecting two number lines
at right angles

Each number line uses a

scale that includes both

negative and positive
numbers.

The Cartesian Plane

y
5

The vertical
number line is
called the y-axis

4
3
2
1

-5

-4

-3

-2

-1

x
1

-1
-2

The point of
intersection of the
x-axis and the yaxis is called the
origin

-3
-4
-5

The horizontal
number line is
called the x-axis

The Quadrants of the Cartesian Plane

The two axes divide the plane into 4 sections called
quadrants
y
5
4

Quadrant
II

Quadrant I

2
1
x

-5

-4

-3

-2

-1

-1

Quadrant III

-2
-3
-4
-5

Quadrant
IV

The Quadrants of the Cartesian Plane

A point plotted on the plane has an x and y coordinate,
which is written as (x, y)
y
5
4

Quadrant
(- ,II+)

Quadrant I

(+ ,
+)

2
1

x
-5

-4

-3

-2

-1

-1

Quadrant III

-2

(- , -)

-3
-4
-5

Quadrant
(+IV
, -)

Plotting points on the Cartesian Plane

Plot the point (2, 3)
y
5

(2,
3)

4
3

Move up 3
units

(2, 3)
x y

2
1

x
-5

-4

-3

-2

Start at
(0, 0)

-1

1
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5

Move 2 units to
the right

Plotting points on the Cartesian Plane

Plot the point (2, 3)
y
5

(2,
3)

4
3
2
1

x
-5

-4

-3

-2

-1

1
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5

Plotting points on the Cartesian Plane

Plot the point (-4, 4)
y

(-4, 4)

5
4
3
2
1
x

-5

-4

-3

-2

-1

1
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5

Plotting points on the Cartesian Plane

Plot the point (-4, 4)
y

(-4, 4)

5
4
3
2
1
x

-5

-4

-3

-2

-1

1
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5

Plotting points on the Cartesian Plane

Plot the point (3, -4)
y
5
4
3
2
1
x
-5

-4

-3

-2

-1

(3,

-4)

-1
-2
-3
-4
-5

Plotting points on the Cartesian Plane

Plot the point (3, -4)
y
5
4
3
2
1
x
-5

-4

-3

-2

-1

(3,

-4)

-1
-2
-3
-4
-5

Stock the
Shelves

Go to:
http://mrnussbaum.com/stocks
helves/