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5th grade

Course: 5th grade > Unit 12

Lesson 1: Intro to the coordinate plane
Math
5th grade
Coordinate plane
Intro to the coordinate plane
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Graph points review (positive numbers only)

Google Classroom
Review graphing points and identifying points on quadrant I of a coordinate plane.  Then, try some practice problems. 

Graphing points in the coordinate plane

Points in the coordinate plane are identified by coordinates given in the form (x,y).
A coordinate grid is labeled 0 through 9 on the x-axis and the y-axis. A blue arrow moves right along the x-axis. A green arrow moves up along the y-axis.
The x-coordinate represents a value on the horizontal axis.
The y-coordinate represents a value on the vertical axis.
Example:
Plot the point (6,4).
For (6,4) our x-coordinate is 6, and our y-coordinate is 4.
Let's start by going right to 6 on the x-axis:
A coordinate grid. The x-axis is labeled 1 to 9. The y-axis is labeled 1 to 9. A blue arrow moves right along the x-axis from the origin to the 6.
Now we go up to 4 on the y-axis, and plot the point (6,4):
A coordinate grid. The x-axis is labeled 1 to 9. The y-axis is labeled 1 to 9. A blue arrow moves right along the x-axis from the origin to the 6. A green arrow moves up 4 units from the 6 on the x-axis to align with 4 on the y-axis. A point labeled (6,4) is plotted at the end of the green arrow.
Want to learn more about graphing points? Check out this video.
Want to learn about negative graphing points, too? Check out this article.

Practice set 1: Graphing points

Problem 1A
Plot the point (1,5).

Want to try more problems like this? Check out this exercise.

Identifying points

To determine the coordinates (or ordered pair) of a given point, we need to count the horizontal and vertical distance of the point from the origin (0, 0).
A coordinate grid is labeled 0 through 6 on the x-axis and the y-axis. A blue arrow moves right along the x-axis. A green arrow moves up along the y-axis. There is a red point at the origin. A point is plotted 3 units to the right and 1 unit up from the origin.
Example:
Use the following coordinate plane to determine the ordered pair for the given point.
A coordinate grid is labeled 0 through 6 on the x-axis and the y-axis. A point is plotted 3 units to the right and 1 unit up from the origin.
Let's start by counting the distance from (0,0) to the given point on the x-axis:
A coordinate grid is labeled 0 through 6 on the x-axis and the y-axis. A point is plotted 3 units to the right and 1 unit up from the origin. A blue arrow moves right along the x-axis from the origin to the 3.
The point is 3 units to the right of the origin.
Now let's count the distance from (0,0) to the given point on the y-axis:
A coordinate grid is labeled 0 through 6 on the x-axis and the y-axis. A point is plotted 3 units to the right and 1 unit up from the origin. A green arrow moves up 1 unit from the 3 on the x-axis to align with the 1 on the y-axis.
The point is 1 unit above the origin.
The coordinates of the point are (3,1).

Practice set 2: Identifying points

Problem 2A
What is the x-coordinate of the point plotted below?
  • Your answer should be
  • an integer, like 6
  • a simplified proper fraction, like 3/5
  • a simplified improper fraction, like 7/4
  • a mixed number, like 1 3/4
  • an exact decimal, like 0.75
  • a multiple of pi, like 12 pi or 2/3 pi
A coordinate grid is labeled 0 through 6 on the x-axis and the y-axis. A point is plotted 4 units to the right and 3 units up from the origin.

Want to try more problems like this? Check out these exercises: Identify coordinates
Identify points

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