When there is equal neg and equal positive.........they sum to zero..........zeros Dr. R......

Cartesian Coordinates

Cartesian coordinates can be used to pinpoint where we are on a map or graph.

Cartesian Coordinates

Using Cartesian Coordinates we mark a point on a graph by how far along and how far up it is:

The point (12,5) is 12 units along, and 5 units up.

They are also called Rectangular Coordinates because it is like we are forming a rectangle.

X and Y Axis

	The left-right (horizontal) direction is commonly called X.
	The up-down (vertical) direction is commonly called Y.

Put them together on a graph ...
	... and we are ready to go
Where they cross over is the "0" point, we measure everything from there. The X Axis runs horizontally through zero The Y Axis runs vertically through zero

Axis: The reference line from which distances are measured.
The plural of Axis is Axes, and is pronounced ax-eez

Example:

Point (6,4) is
6 units across (in the x direction), and
4 units up (in the y direction)

So (6,4) means:

Go along 6 and then go up 4 then "plot the dot".

And you can remember which axis is which by:

x is A CROSS, so x is ACROSS the page.

Play With It ! Now is a good time to play with Interactive Cartesian Coordinates to see for y