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. A treasure map marks the spot (6, 2). How many steps along the x-axis is the treasure from the origin?

    Answer: ______________

  2. On a coordinate grid, which line runs from left to right?

    • The x-axis
    • The y-axis
    • The origin
    • The ordered pair

  3. To plot the point (3, 5), what do you do?

    • Go 3 along, then 5 up
    • Go 5 along, then 3 up
    • Go 3 up, then 5 along
    • Start at (5, 3) instead

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

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

  5. Zoe says (2, 4) and (4, 2) mark the same spot because they use the same numbers. Is Zoe right?

    Circle one:   True   False

  6. Where does the point (0, 4) sit?

    • On the y-axis
    • On the x-axis
    • At the origin
    • Off the grid

  7. Look at (2, 4) and (4, 2). Which statement is true?

    • They are different points
    • They are the same point
    • Both sit on the x-axis
    • Both sit on the y-axis

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

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

  9. 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
    • Yes, because both add up to 6
    • No, because the order of the numbers changes the direction you move

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

    • She used the wrong origin
    • She swapped the x-coordinate and y-coordinate
    • She counted the axes backwards
LightMySky · lightmysky.comW1-mt_oDlduFnemk-s1

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. 6 · In (6, 2) the first number counts steps along the x-axis, so the treasure is 6 steps along.
  2. The x-axis · The x-axis is the flat line that runs left to right. The y-axis runs up and down.
  3. Go 3 along, then 5 up · In (3, 5) the first number counts steps along the x-axis and the second counts steps up, so you go 3 along and 5 up.
  4. The x-axis · The x-axis is the horizontal line. The y-axis runs up and down.
  5. False · Zoe is wrong. The first number always counts along and the second counts up, so (2, 4) and (4, 2) are different points.
  6. On the y-axis · In (0, 4) you walk 0 steps along and climb 4, so the dot sits on the upright y-axis.
  7. They are different points · Order matters: (2, 4) is 2 along and 4 up, while (4, 2) is 4 along and 2 up, so they land on different spots.
  8. (2, 7) · The first number is the horizontal move, 2. The second is the vertical move, 7. That gives (2, 7).
  9. 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.
  10. 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