Concepts of Algebra | Introduction to the Rectangular Coordinate System

In mathematics, graphs are used to illustrate the information presented in the form of equations.

These equations contain two variables that information is derived from

The variables x and y take the place of solutions of an equation that are written as an ordered pair of real numbers, (x,y).

To find the ordered pairs that satisfy a function. An input value can be chosen as the x-value (any real number) and an output value will be given as the y-value representing one of many ordered pairs.

What is the Rectangular Coordinate System

So the rectangular coordinate system has a vertical number line, the y- axis, and horizontal number line, the x-axis, that are indeed perpendicular and intersect at the origin, (0,0).

These two number lines also illustrate that there are 4 quadrants in the plane.

Plot Points in the Coordinate System

To be asked “to graph” a point. Takes the same meaning as “to plot” a point.

To graph a point we declare x and y values as a coordinate pair that gives us the location of the point in the plane.

This pair is represented by the ordered pair (x,y). For example, the origin is the coordinate of 0 on the x-axis and 0 on the y- axis thus the ordered pair for the origin is (0,0).

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