Use the Rectangular Coordinate System

Plot Points on a Rectangular Coordinate System

Many maps, such as the Campus Map shown in Figure 1, use a grid system to identify locations. Do you see the numbers $1,2,3,$ and $4$ across the top and bottom of the map and the letters A, B, C, and D along the sides? Every location on the map can be identified by a number and a letter.

For example, the Student Center is in section 2B. It is located in the grid section above the number $2$ and next to the letter B. In which grid section is the Stadium? The Stadium is in section 4D.

Just as maps use a grid system to identify locations, a grid system is used in algebra to show a relationship between two variables in a rectangular coordinate system. To create a rectangular coordinate system, start with a horizontal number line. Show both positive and negative numbers as you did before, using a convenient scale unit. This horizontal number line is called the x-axis.

Now, make a vertical number line passing through the $x\text{-axis}$ at $0.$ Put the positive numbers above $0$ and the negative numbers below $0.$ See Figure 2. This vertical line is called the y-axis.

Vertical grid lines pass through the integers marked on the $x\text{-axis}.$ Horizontal grid lines pass through the integers marked on the $y\text{-axis}.$ The resulting grid is the rectangular coordinate system.

The rectangular coordinate system is also called the $x\text{-}y$ plane, the coordinate plane, or the Cartesian coordinate system (since it was developed by a mathematician named René Descartes.)

The $x\text{-axis}$ and the $y\text{-axis}$ form the rectangular coordinate system. These axes divide a plane into four areas, called quadrants. The quadrants are identified by Roman numerals, beginning on the upper right and proceeding counterclockwise. See Figure 3.

In the rectangular coordinate system, every point is represented by an ordered pair. The first number in the ordered pair is the x-coordinate of the point, and the second number is the y-coordinate of the point.

So how do the coordinates of a point help you locate a point on the $x\text{-}y$ plane?

Let’s try locating the point $(2,5)$. In this ordered pair, the $x$-coordinate is $2$ and the $y$-coordinate is $5$.

We start by locating the $x$ value, $2,$ on the $x\text{-axis.}$ Then we lightly sketch a vertical line through $x=2,$ as shown in Figure 4.

Now we locate the $y$ value, $5,$ on the $y$-axis and sketch a horizontal line through $y=5$. The point where these two lines meet is the point with coordinates $(2,5).$ We plot the point there, as shown in Figure 5.

How do the signs affect the location of the points?

You may have noticed some patterns as you graphed the points in the two previous examples.

For each point in Quadrant IV, what do you notice about the signs of the coordinates?

What about the signs of the coordinates of the points in the third quadrant? The second quadrant? The first quadrant?

Can you tell just by looking at the coordinates in which quadrant the point (−2, 5) is located? In which quadrant is (2, −5) located?

We can summarize sign patterns of the quadrants as follows. Also see Figure 7.

What if one coordinate is zero? Where is the point $\left(0,4\right)$ located? Where is the point $\left(\mathrm{-2},0\right)$ located? The point $(0,4)$ is on the y-axis and the point $(-2,0)$ is on the x-axis.

Identify Points on a Graph

In algebra, being able to identify the coordinates of a point shown on a graph is just as important as being able to plot points. To identify the x-coordinate of a point on a graph, read the number on the x-axis directly above or below the point. To identify the y-coordinate of a point, read the number on the y-axis directly to the left or right of the point. Remember, to write the ordered pair using the correct order $\left(x,y\right).$

Name the ordered pair of each point shown:

Solution

Solution

Point A is above $\mathrm{-3}$ on the $x\text{-axis},$ so the $x\text{-coordinate}$ of the point is $\mathrm{-3}.$ The point is to the left of $3$ on the $y\text{-axis},$ so the $y\text{-coordinate}$ of the point is $3.$ The coordinates of the point are $\left(\mathrm{-3},3\right).$

Point B is below $\mathrm{-1}$ on the $x\text{-axis},$ so the $x\text{-coordinate}$ of the point is $\mathrm{-1}.$ The point is to the left of $\mathrm{-3}$ on the $y\text{-axis},$ so the $y\text{-coordinate}$ of the point is $\mathrm{-3}.$ The coordinates of the point are $\left(\mathrm{-1},\mathrm{-3}\right).$

Point C is above $2$ on the $x\text{-axis},$ so the $x\text{-coordinate}$ of the point is $2.$ The point is to the right of $4$ on the $y\text{-axis},$ so the $y\text{-coordinate}$ of the point is $4.$ The coordinates of the point are $\left(2,4\right).$

Point D is below $4$ on the $x-\text{axis},$ so the $x\text{-coordinate}$ of the point is $4.$ The point is to the right of $\mathrm{-4}$ on the $y\text{-axis},$ so the $y\text{-coordinate}$ of the point is $\mathrm{-4}.$ The coordinates of the point are $\left(4,\mathrm{-4}\right).$

Name the ordered pair of each point shown:

Solution

Solution

Points defined by their axis location and their corresponding Cartesian coordinates.

Point A is on the x-axis at $x=-4$.	The coordinates of point A are $(-4,0)$.
Point B is on the y-axis at $y=-2$	The coordinates of point B are $(0,-2)$.
Point C is on the x-axis at $x=3$.	The coordinates of point C are $(3,0)$.
Point D is on the y-axis at $y=1$.	The coordinates of point D are $(0,1)$.

Verify Solutions to an Equation in Two Variables

All the equations we solved so far have been equations with one variable. In almost every case, when we solved the equation we got exactly one solution. The process of solving an equation ended with a statement such as $x=4.$ Then we checked the solution by substituting back into the equation.

Here’s an example of a linear equation in one variable, and its one solution.

But equations can have more than one variable. Equations with two variables can be written in the general form $Ax+By=C.$ An equation of this form is called a linear equation in two variables.

Notice that the word “line” is in linear.

Here is an example of a linear equation in two variables, $x$ and $y\text{:}$

Is $y=\mathrm{-5}x+1$ a linear equation? It does not appear to be in the form $Ax+By=C.$ But we could rewrite it in this form.

Add $5x$ to both sides.
Simplify.
Use the Commutative Property to put it in $Ax+By=C.$

By rewriting $y=\mathrm{-5}x+1$ as $5x+y=1,$ we can see that it is a linear equation in two variables because it can be written in the form $Ax+By=C.$

Linear equations in two variables have infinitely many solutions. For every number that is substituted for $x,$ there is a corresponding $y$ value. This pair of values is a solution to the linear equation and is represented by the ordered pair $\left(x,y\right).$ When we substitute these values of $x$ and $y$ into the equation, the result is a true statement because the value on the left side is equal to the value on the right side.

Determine which ordered pairs are solutions of the equation $x+4y=8\text{:}$

1. ⓐ $(0,2)$
2. ⓑ $(2,\mathrm{-4})$
3. ⓒ $(\mathrm{-4},3)$

Solution

Solution

Substitute the $x\text{- and}y\text{-values}$ from each ordered pair into the equation and determine if the result is a true statement.

ⓐ $(0,2)$	ⓑ $(2,\mathrm{-4})$	ⓒ $(\mathrm{-4},3)$
$(0,2)$ is a solution.	$(2,\mathrm{-4})$ is not a solution.	$(\mathrm{-4},3)$ is a solution.

Determine which ordered pairs are solutions of the equation. $y=5x-1\text{:}$

1. ⓐ $(0,\mathrm{-1})$
2. ⓑ $(1,4)$
3. ⓒ $(\mathrm{-2},\mathrm{-7})$

Solution

Solution

Substitute the $x\text{-}$ and $y\text{-values}$ from each ordered pair into the equation and determine if it results in a true statement.

ⓐ $(0,\mathrm{-1})$	ⓑ $(1,4)$	ⓒ $(\mathrm{-2},\mathrm{-7})$
$(0,\mathrm{-1})$ is a solution.	$(1,4)$ is a solution.	$(\mathrm{-2},\mathrm{-7})$ is not a solution.

Complete a Table of Solutions to a Linear Equation

In the previous examples, we substituted the $x\text{- and}y\text{-values}$ of a given ordered pair to determine whether or not it was a solution to a linear equation. But how do we find the ordered pairs if they are not given? One way is to choose a value for $x$ and then solve the equation for $y.$ Or, choose a value for $y$ and then solve for $x.$

We’ll start by looking at the solutions to the equation $y=5x-1$ we found in Example 9. We can summarize this information in a table of solutions.

To find a third solution, we’ll let $x=2$ and solve for $y.$

	$y=5x-1$
Multiply.	$y=10-1$
Simplify.	$y=9$

The ordered pair is a solution to $y=5x-1$. We will add it to the table.

We can find more solutions to the equation by substituting any value of $x$ or any value of $y$ and solving the resulting equation to get another ordered pair that is a solution. There are an infinite number of solutions for this equation.

Complete the table to find three solutions to the equation $y=4x-2\text{:}$

$y=4x-2$
$x$	$y$	$(x,y)$
$0$
$\mathrm{-1}$
$2$

Solution

Solution

Substitute $x=0,x=\mathrm{-1},$ and $x=2$ into $y=4x-2.$

$y=4x-2$	$y=4x-2$	$y=4x-2$
$y=0-2$	$y=\mathrm{-4}-2$	$y=8-2$
$y=\mathrm{-2}$	$y=\mathrm{-6}$	$y=6$
$(0,\mathrm{-2})$	$(\mathrm{-1},\mathrm{-6})$	$(2,6)$

The results are summarized in the table.

$y=4x-2$
$x$	$y$	$(x,y)$
$0$	$\mathrm{-2}$	$(0,\mathrm{-2})$
$\mathrm{-1}$	$\mathrm{-6}$	$(\mathrm{-1},\mathrm{-6})$
$2$	$6$	$(2,6)$

Complete the table to find three solutions to the equation $5x-4y=20\text{:}$

$5x-4y=20$
$x$	$y$	$(x,y)$
$0$
	$0$
	$5$

Solution

Solution

The results are summarized in the table.

$5x-4y=20$
$x$	$y$	$(x,y)$
$0$	$\mathrm{-5}$	$(0,\mathrm{-5})$
$4$	$0$	$(4,0)$
$8$	$5$	$(8,5)$

Find Solutions to Linear Equations in Two Variables

To find a solution to a linear equation, we can choose any number we want to substitute into the equation for either $x$ or $y.$ We could choose $1,100,\mathrm{1,000},$ or any other value we want. But it’s a good idea to choose a number that’s easy to work with. We’ll usually choose $0$ as one of our values.

Find a solution to the equation $3x+2y=6.$

Solution

Solution

Step 1: Choose any value for one of the variables in the equation.		We can substitute any value we want for $x$ or any value for $y.$ Let's pick $x=0.$ What is the value of $y$ if $x=0$?
Step 2: Substitute that value into the equation. Solve for the other variable.	Substitute $0$ for $x.$ Simplify. Divide both sides by 2.
Step 3: Write the solution as an ordered pair.	So, when $x=0,y=3.$	This solution is represented by the ordered pair $(0,3).$
Step 4: Check.	Is the result a true equation? Yes!

We said that linear equations in two variables have infinitely many solutions, and we’ve just found one of them. Let’s find some other solutions to the equation $3x+2y=6.$

Find three more solutions to the equation $3x+2y=6.$

Solution

Solution

To find solutions to $3x+2y=6,$ choose a value for $x$ or $y.$ Remember, we can choose any value we want for $x$ or $y.$ Here we chose $1$ for $x,$ and $0$ and $\mathrm{-3}$ for $y.$

Substitute it into the equation.
Simplify. Solve.
Write the ordered pair.	$(2,0)$	$(1,\frac{3}{2})$	$(4,\mathrm{-3})$

Check your answers.

$(2,0)$	$(1,\frac{3}{2})$	$(4,\mathrm{-3})$

So $\left(2,0\right),\left(1,\frac{3}{2}\right)$ and $\left(4,\mathrm{-3}\right)$ are all solutions to the equation $3x+2y=6.$ In the previous example, we found that $\left(0,3\right)$ is a solution, too. We can list these solutions in a table.

$3x+2y=6$
$x$	$y$	$(x,y)$
$0$	$3$	$(0,3)$
$2$	$0$	$(2,0)$
$1$	$\frac{3}{2}$	$(1,\frac{3}{2})$
$4$	$\mathrm{-3}$	$(4,\mathrm{-3})$

Let’s find some solutions to another equation now.

Find three solutions to the equation $x-4y=8.$

Solution

Solution

Choose a value for $x$ or $y.$
Substitute it into the equation.
Solve.
Write the ordered pair.	$(0,\mathrm{-2})$	$(8,0)$	$(20,3)$

So $\left(0,\mathrm{-2}\right),\left(8,0\right),$ and $\left(20,3\right)$ are three solutions to the equation $x-4y=8.$

$x-4y=8$
$x$	$y$	$(x,y)$
$0$	$\mathrm{-2}$	$(0,\mathrm{-2})$
$8$	$0$	$(8,0)$
$20$	$3$	$(20,3)$

Remember, there are an infinite number of solutions to each linear equation. Any point you find is a solution if it makes the equation true.