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Maths Learn & Test Study Notes

Coordinates

📖Definition

Coordinates are simply a pair of numbers that tell you the position of a point on a grid.

Diagram

11P coordinate points def
Coordinate points are written in brackets with the first number in the bracket being the horizontal position (x coordinate) and the second being the vertical position (y coordinate).

💡Tips/hints

If two points lie on the same horizontal line (in the above example, A and C), then they have the same y coordinate that is, their vertical position is the same. Similarly, if they lie on the same vertical line, (D and E), their x coordinates are the same. This is helpful when working out a missing coordinate of the corner of a shape.
Be sure to write the horizontal position as the first number in the brackets and the vertical position as the second.

✏️Example

A kite is drawn in the coordinate grid as shown. What are the coordinates of P?

Diagram

11P coordinate kite 1

Solution

P lies on the same line as (3,5) so its y coordinate (vertical position) is 5. To find the x coordinate, go down from P to the axis. The number here is 7 - that's the x coordinate. So, P's coordinates are (7, 5)