The coordinate plane is a flat grid made by two number lines crossing at right angles. The horizontal line is the x-axis, the vertical line is the y-axis. They cross at the origin: (0, 0).
Every point has an address — a coordinate pair (x, y). The x tells you how far to move left or right. The y tells you how far to move up or down.
Always read x first, then y. A good memory trick: "Walk before you climb" — go across first (x), then up or down (y).
Remember
(x, y) — x goes across (horizontal), y goes up/down (vertical). Always x first.
Real World
A map grid works the same way — you read the column (x) then the row (y) to find a location. "B4" on a board game is just (B, 4) — a coordinate pair.
Feeling ready?
Put this concept to work with a practice workout.
Related concepts