The coordinate plane and ordered pairs · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Finding a point on a grid

Mathematics · Geometry · ages 10-11
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Which axis runs left to right on a coordinate grid?

    • The y-axis
    • The x-axis
    • The origin

  2. What is the name of the point where the x-axis and y-axis cross?

    • The center
    • The origin
    • The corner

  3. The origin is always at the point (0, 0).

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. Starting at the origin, you move 4 steps right and 6 steps up. What is the second number in your ordered pair?

    Answer: ______________

  5. In the ordered pair (3, 5), what does the first number tell you?

    • How far up along the y-axis
    • How far right along the x-axis
    • How far from the top of the grid

  6. Which ordered pair matches: 2 right, 7 up from the origin?

    • (7, 2)
    • (2, 7)
    • (2, 2)

  7. A map shows a treasure at (2, 4) and a trap at (4, 2). Are these the same spot?

    • Yes, the numbers are the same so the spot is the same
    • No, because the order of the numbers changes the direction you move
    • Yes, because both add up to 6

  8. Priya plots the point (5, 1) but should have plotted (1, 5). What mistake did she most likely make?

    • She swapped the x-coordinate and y-coordinate
    • She used the wrong origin
    • She counted the axes backwards
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Finding a point on a grid W1-mt_oDlduFnemk-s1

  1. The x-axis · The x-axis is the horizontal line. The y-axis runs up and down.
  2. The origin · That crossing point is called the origin, and its coordinates are (0, 0).
  3. True · The origin is where both number lines start, so its coordinates are always (0, 0).
  4. 6 · The second number is how far up you moved from the origin, which is 6.
  5. How far right along the x-axis · The first number in an ordered pair always gives the horizontal distance along the x-axis.
  6. (2, 7) · The first number is the horizontal move, 2. The second is the vertical move, 7. That gives (2, 7).
  7. No, because the order of the numbers changes the direction you move · (2, 4) means 2 right and 4 up. (4, 2) means 4 right and 2 up. They are different points.
  8. She swapped the x-coordinate and y-coordinate · Swapping the order turns (1, 5) into (5, 1), which is a completely different point.
Worksheet · LightMySky