Success criteria
- I read and write ordered pairs as
(x, y). - I use the signs of x and y to identify all four quadrants.
- I use coordinates—not visual guessing—to answer a map question.
Learn and explain
An ordered pair is written (x, y): read the horizontal x-coordinate first, then the vertical y-coordinate. Positive and negative signs tell which side of each axis contains the point. A point on an axis is not inside a quadrant.
Draw a four-quadrant grid on paper with the axes crossing at the origin, then plot this map:
| Location | Ordered pair | Quadrant |
|---|---|---|
| Beacon | (-4, 3) | II |
| Court | (5, 3) | I |
| Dock | (-3, -2) | III |
| Garden | (4, -4) | IV |
Explain why changing either the order or a sign produces a different location.
Independent practice
Which quadrant contains the Beacon at (-4, 3)?
quadrantOfPoint classifies (-4, 3) as Quadrant II.
The Beacon and Court share the same y-coordinate. How many grid units apart are (-4, 3) and (5, 3)?
Horizontal distance is the absolute difference between their x-coordinates: 9 units.
Unfamiliar transfer — route change
A meeting point starts at (-2, 3), moves 5 units right, and then 6 units down. Plot both points on paper and draw signed arrows before answering.
Where is the new meeting point?
The translated point is (3, -3).
Delayed check
One week later, plot one point in each quadrant, one point on an axis, and the origin. Label every ordered pair and write one comparison using “same x,” “same y,” or “farther.”
Evidence path
Save the paper route map to jeremy/portfolio/math/unit-5/lesson-14-coordinates/.
Next step
- Repair: use a sign-and-quadrant card, then rehearse x before y.
- Continue: if plotting and interpreting are independent, classify shapes.
- Stretch: compare distances that require both horizontal and vertical change.