What is the Coordinate Plane?

A line is a line is a line. As a middle school assessment task, learners first identify graphs of given linear equations. They then identify the equations that represent real-world situations.

Young graphers decide where to plot a point given a specific ordered pair. The problems vary in difficulty, beginning with simpler coordinates, and ending with plotting and connecting coordinates. Each graph is labeled with the...

Take graphing outside and make a giant coordinate plane to plot your human points. Young graphers are each given a coordinate for a particular shape and asked to make the geometrical shapes one by one. Those not plotted are to write down...

Get the class batty over graphing. Young mathematicians plot ordered pairs in all quadrants of a Cartesian plane, and connect the points to create a bat.

After correcting the last problem in his previous video, Sal explains how to graph quadratic functions. Those with difficulty graphing algebraic functions will find Sal's instruction and easygoing manner a welcome change from staring at...

So you have an ordered pair and you want to graph it. Just remember that the first value is plotted along the x-axis and the second value in the pair is plotted along the y-axis. So count left or right, then up or down and you have...

So you have an ordered pair and you want to graph it. Just remember that the first value is plotted along the x-axis and the second value in the pair is plotted along the y-axis. So count left or right, then up or down and you have...

Middle schoolers describe plotting functions on the Cartesian coordinate plane. They solve functions on paper and using an online tool to plot points on a Cartesian coordinate plane creating lines and parabolas.

Working independently or in teams, your class practices connecting graphs, formulas and words. This instructional activity includes a guided discussion about distance vs. time graphs and looking at how velocity changes over time.  

Working with a map that does not have a coordinate system on it, small, collaborative teams must come up with a coordinate system for their map. Groups then explain their coordinate structure to the class.