Plotting Points on Graph

Plotting a point on a graph means marking the exact location of that point on the Cartesian plane using its coordinates. Each point is written in the form (x, y), which tells us how far to move horizontally (x-direction) and vertically (y-direction).

Graph sheets have evenly spaced squares, which help you count units accurately.

Follow these simple steps whenever you plot a point:

1. Start at the origin (0, 0).
2. Move along the X-axis first — right for positive x, left for negative x.
3. From that point, move parallel to the Y-axis — up for positive y, down for negative y.
4. Mark the point exactly where you stop.

Always move in the order x first, then y.

The sign of x and y tells you which quadrant the point will fall in:

Once you know the quadrant, plotting becomes easier.

Some points lie directly on the axes:

• (a, 0) → lies on X-axis
• (0, b) → lies on Y-axis

These points do not belong to any quadrant.

Sometimes the graph is already drawn, and you must read the coordinates of a point. Use this method:

1. From the point, draw a horizontal imaginary line to the Y-axis → gives the x-value.
2. From the point, draw a vertical imaginary line to the X-axis → gives the y-value.
3. Write the pair as (x, y).

• Plot (5, -3): 5 right, 3 down → Quadrant IV
• Plot (-6, 4): 6 left, 4 up → Quadrant II
• Plot (0, 7): On the Y-axis
• Plot (-3, 0): On the X-axis

• Interchanging x and y values.
• Moving vertically first instead of horizontally.
• Ignoring the sign (positive/negative) of coordinates.
• Miscounting squares on the graph.

Plot these points on a graph:

1. (4, 3)
2. (-2, 5)
3. (6, -1)
4. (-4, -7)
5. (0, -6)

• To plot a point, start from the origin.
• Move along the X-axis first, then Y-axis.
• The signs of x and y decide the quadrant.
• Points on axes have one coordinate equal to zero.
• Reading coordinates involves tracing lines to axes.