Q&A for How to Graph Points on the Coordinate Plane

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  • Question
    How do I graph y=3x?
    Community Answer
    Substitute the x values on your cartesian plan into your equation, which will give you the corresponding y values. You can then plot it onto your graph.
  • Question
    What do the (+,+), (-,-), (+,-), and (-,+) notations indicate on a coordinate graph?
    Community Answer
    These notations indicate whether the x and y coordinates of a graphed point are positive or negative. You can use this information to determine the graph quadrant in which a point appears. Quadrant I (upper right) is (+,+), quadrant II (upper left) is (-,+), quadrant III (lower left) is (-,-), and quadrant IV (lower right) is (+,-).
  • Question
    How do I draw the graph of 3y=2x?
    Community Answer
    Solve the equation for y; y will equal 2/3 x. Pick several values for x. Multiply each value of x by 2/3 (for example, if x= 2 then y will be 2/3 times 2 or 4/3). Once you have done this for all of your x values, you are ready to graph. Locate your first x value on the horizontal axis and go up to the y value you calculated and make a small dot. Do this for each x value--connect the dots with a smooth line or curve as (in this case, it will be a line).
  • Question
    How do I plot data points with one or both coordinates being negative?
    Community Answer
    First, look at the x-axis. Now locate the x-axis coordinate. For example, if the full coordinate is (-5,-9), the x-axis coordinate is -5. Find -5 on the x-axis. Once you find the x-axis coordinate, look at the y-axis. The y-axis coordinate is -9, so locate -9 on the y-axis. When you find both coordinates, plot the dot where the two number lines meet.
  • Question
    Why did you use open dots? My teacher said that an update on the rules of graphing states that whenever you need to plot a point that lies in the number line, you have to use an open dot.
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    An open dot on a solid line is more visible than a closed dot.
  • Question
    How do you plot a graph with only positive y and negative x?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Plot it as you would any other set of coordinates. All of the points will be in the upper-left quadrant.
  • Question
    If it has endpoints B(5, 9) and C(4, 3), what coordinates are the midpoint?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Find the midpoint between the two x-coordinates and the midpoint between the two y-coordinates. They are, respectively, 4½ and 6. Those are the coordinates of the midpoint of the line.
  • Question
    What does it mean to join the points to form a graph?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    It means to draw a continuous line from one point to the next point in order.
  • Question
    What does the point (0,-1) look like when graphed?
    Christopher
    Top Answerer
    On a coordinate plane graph, the point is downward one full point from the center without moving left or right.
  • Question
    How can I easily present a Google Drive spreadsheet to a participant?
    Danoyachtcapt
    Top Answerer
    If you mean to present the spreadsheet on a tv screen for an audiance, you can use Google's ComCast device.
  • Question
    I am totally confused when it comes to using the four spaces of the plan. I'm only used to using the first and second one of all four, how does it all work?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Every point on the plane has an x value and a y value. (The x value is written first, then the y value.) If a point has a positive x value, the point sits somewhere on the right half of the plane (in other words, to the right of the vertical (y) axis). If the point has a negative x value, that means it is situated somewhere on the left half of the plane (to the left of the vertical axis). If a point has a positive y value, it will sit somewhere in the top half of the plane (above the horizontal (x) axis). If a point has a negative y value, it is placed somewhere in the bottom half of the plane (below the horizontal axis).
  • Question
    If coordinates are (0,1), what is the quadrant?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    The point is in the upper half of the graph, but because it is on the y-axis, it's not in any quadrant.
  • Question
    How do I graph -3, 2?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    That is a point three units to the left of the y-axis and two units above the x-axis.
  • Question
    Can you help me with (-6,-3) and determine the quadrant and answer?
    Community Answer
    (-6, -3) is a point in the third (lower left) quadrant six units to the left of the y-axis and 3 units below the x-axis. There is no "answer" without a question (such as an equation to solve).
  • Question
    Instead of (0,0) can I use beginning points (0,24) or something else?
    Christopher
    Top Answerer
    You could use an infinite number of beginning points. It doesn't always have to be a beginning point at the center of the coordinate plane at (0,0).
  • Question
    Can I overlap points when connecting the points?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Technically all points are dimensionless, so they would not overlap. As a practical matter, however, points very close together might overlap, in which case you would not need to draw a line between them.
  • Question
    What does it mean when 0.5 comes up in a coordinate, like (1, 1.5)?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    It just means 1½, or halfway between 1 and 2 on (in this case) the y-axis.
  • Question
    How do I find the coordinate of (2,3) with respect of the line x = 2?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    (2,3) is a point on the line x = 2 three units above the x-axis.
  • Question
    How is this helpful?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Graphs are intended to be useful in interpreting equations or data sets.
  • Question
    How do I connect at least two out of three data points on a graph?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Any two consecutive data points are connected with a straight line (for the graph of a linear equation) or a curved line (for the graph of a quadratic or higher-degree equation).
  • Question
    You move up 4 units and down 7 units. You end at (5, -5). Where did you start?
    Community Answer
    If you move vertically (parallel to the y-axis) up 4 and then down 7, you've ultimately moved down 3 units. 3 units straight up from (5,-5) is (5,-2), the starting point.
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