Skip to main content
Ch. 2 - Graphs and Functions
Lial - College Algebra 13th Edition
Lial13th EditionCollege AlgebraISBN: 9780136881063Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 3, Problem 39

Plot each point, and then plot the points that are symmetric to the given point with respect to the (a) x-axis, (b) y-axis, and (c) origin. (5, -3)

Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the given point as \( (5, -3) \). This means the point is located 5 units to the right of the origin along the x-axis and 3 units down along the y-axis.
To find the point symmetric with respect to the x-axis, keep the x-coordinate the same and change the sign of the y-coordinate. The symmetric point will be \( (5, 3) \).
To find the point symmetric with respect to the y-axis, keep the y-coordinate the same and change the sign of the x-coordinate. The symmetric point will be \( (-5, -3) \).
To find the point symmetric with respect to the origin, change the signs of both the x- and y-coordinates. The symmetric point will be \( (-5, 3) \).
Plot all points on the coordinate plane: the original point \( (5, -3) \), the x-axis symmetric point \( (5, 3) \), the y-axis symmetric point \( (-5, -3) \), and the origin symmetric point \( (-5, 3) \).

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.
Video duration:
5m
Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Coordinate Plane and Plotting Points

The coordinate plane consists of two perpendicular number lines called the x-axis and y-axis. Points are plotted using ordered pairs (x, y), where x indicates horizontal position and y indicates vertical position. Understanding how to locate and plot points is fundamental for visualizing symmetry.
Recommended video:
Guided course
05:10
Graphs & the Rectangular Coordinate System

Symmetry with Respect to the Axes

Symmetry about the x-axis means reflecting a point across the x-axis, changing the sign of the y-coordinate while keeping x the same. Symmetry about the y-axis involves changing the sign of the x-coordinate while keeping y the same. These reflections produce mirror images of the original point.
Recommended video:
07:42
Properties of Parabolas

Symmetry with Respect to the Origin

Symmetry about the origin reflects a point through the origin, changing the signs of both coordinates. For a point (x, y), its symmetric point with respect to the origin is (-x, -y). This transformation is equivalent to a 180-degree rotation around the origin.
Recommended video:
5:59
Graph Hyperbolas NOT at the Origin