Co-ordinate Geometry

283. Plotting Points · Navigate the coordinate plane

Points A, B, C, D are plotted correctly on the coordinate plane.

To plot a point (x, y), start at the origin, move x units horizontally (right if positive, left if negative), then y units vertically (up if positive, down if negative), and mark the spot.

Stuck? Ask Guru

Selina ICSE: Co-ordinate Geometry

What this lesson covers

Try to break it

Drag A, B, C, or D anywhere. Each label updates to (x, y) — its signed horizontal and vertical distance from the axes. Pull a point onto an axis and one coordinate snaps to 0. The pair of numbers uniquely pins the point down — no two distinct points share both coordinates.

How you build it

Plot four points by their coordinates, one in each quadrant.

Plot A = (3, 4): start at O, count 3 units right along the x-axis, then 4 units up. Click that grid point.
Plot B = (-5, 2): the x is negative, so count 5 units left, then 2 units up. Click there.
Plot C = (-4, -6): both are negative, so count 4 units left, then 6 units down. Click there.
Plot D = (6, -3): x is positive, y is negative, so count 6 units right, then 3 units down. Click there.

The proof, step by step

Prove that points A, B, C, and D are plotted at their correct coordinates.

Start at the origin O(0, 0).
Move x units along the X-axis (right for +, left for -).
From there, move y units parallel to the Y-axis (up for +, down for -).
Mark the dot. This is your point (x, y).

Worked example

To plot the point (-3, 5) on a graph paper, you should:

The first coordinate (-3) means move 3 units left along the X-axis. The second coordinate (5) means move 5 units up parallel to the Y-axis.

Move 3 units left from origin, then 5 units up. — correct
Move 3 units right from origin, then 5 units up.
Move 5 units left from origin, then 3 units up.
Move 3 units up from origin, then 5 units left.