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Checking and securing understanding of plotting coordinates

Lesson details

Learning outcome

I can plot coordinates in any of the four quadrants.

Key learning points

  1. It is possible to plot coordinates approximately in the correct quadrant.
  2. Coordinates can be plotted exactly when the axes are labelled.
  3. By careful consideration of coordinates the missing vertices of a shape can be found.

Keywords

  • Quadrant - Any one of the four areas into which a space is divided by the <i>x</i>- and <i>y</i>-axes in the Cartesian coordinate system.

Common misconception

Where is coordinate (−2,5)? 2 down, 5 right from the origin? 5 right, 2 down from the origin?

Coordinates in (<i>x,y</i>) form. −2 is <i>x</i>-instruction. From (0,0) will we travel in a positive or negative <i>x</i>-direction?

Teacher tip

Ask students to repeat the precise language aloud. "Where is the coordinate (8,−7)?" to which their response should be, "From the origin it is 8 in the positive <i>x</i>-direction and 7 in the negative <i>y</i>-direction".

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
$$(7, 3)$$ is an example of a __________ pair.

fraction
ratio
number
Correct answer: coordinate
vector

Q2.
On a coordinate grid the vertical axis is labelled as ...

$$x$$
Correct answer: $$y$$
$$z$$

Q3.
What is this coordinate?

An image in a quiz
$$2$$
$$2.2$$
$$2,2$$
Correct answer: $$(2,2)$$

Q4.
Squares have four equal __________ and four equal ...

Correct answer: sides
Correct answer: angles
areas
volumes
units

Q5.
What's wrong with the labelling of this coordinate?

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We use dots, not crosses to mark coordinates.
Correct answer: There is no comma between the $$x$$ and $$y$$ coordinates.
The $$x$$ and the $$y$$ coordinates are the wrong way round.
Nothing.

Q6.
The coordinate $$(0, 0)$$ is also known as ...

An image in a quiz
point zero
Correct answer: the origin
the start
the nil coordinate

6 Questions

Q1.
Which language best describes this coordinate position?

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2 along, 5 up
2 right, 5 up
2 in the $$x$$ direction, 5 in the $$y$$ direction
Correct answer: 2 in the positive $$x$$ direction, 5 in the positive $$y$$ direction

Q2.
Match the points to the correct coordinate.

An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:A,$$(3, 2)$$

$$(3, 2)$$

Correct Answer:B,$$(−2, 3)$$

$$(−2, 3)$$

Correct Answer:C,$$(−3, −2)$$

$$(−3, −2)$$

Correct Answer:D,$$(2, −3)$$

$$(2, −3)$$

Q3.
What is this coordinate?

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$$(3, 1)$$
$$(1, 3)$$
$$(6, 2)$$
Correct answer: Until we know the scale of the axes we can not know this coordinate.

Q4.
What is this coordinate?

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$$(2, 15)$$
Correct answer: $$(15, 2)$$
$$(1, 3)$$
$$(3, 1)$$

Q5.
ABCD is a square. What is coordinate C?

An image in a quiz
$$(1.7, 3.2)$$
$$(−1.7, −3.2)$$
Correct answer: $$(−1.7, 3.2)$$
$$(−3.2, 1.7)$$
$$(3.2, −1.7)$$

Q6.
ABCD is a square. What is coordinate D?

An image in a quiz
$$(1.7, 3.2)$$
$$(4.9, 4.9)$$
$$(4.9, 1.5)$$
Correct answer: $$(1.5, 4.9)$$
It is not possible to work it out without more information.

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