In Exercises 1-12, plot the given point in a rectangular coordinate system. (- 2, 3)

Key Concepts

Rectangular Coordinate System

A rectangular coordinate system, also known as the Cartesian coordinate system, consists of two perpendicular axes: the x-axis (horizontal) and the y-axis (vertical). Each point in this system is defined by an ordered pair (x, y), where 'x' indicates the horizontal position and 'y' indicates the vertical position. This system allows for the precise plotting of points and the visualization of geometric shapes.

Ordered Pairs

An ordered pair is a pair of numbers used to represent a point in a coordinate system, written in the form (x, y). The first number, 'x', corresponds to the horizontal distance from the origin along the x-axis, while the second number, 'y', represents the vertical distance from the origin along the y-axis. The order of the numbers is crucial, as switching them would indicate a different point.

Plotting Points

Plotting points involves marking a specific location on a coordinate grid based on its ordered pair. To plot the point (-2, 3), you start at the origin (0, 0), move 2 units left along the x-axis (since -2 is negative), and then move 3 units up along the y-axis. This process visually represents the point in the coordinate system, allowing for further analysis and interpretation.