Read the order correctly
(3, -2) means 3 across and 2 down.
The x-value is always written first.
Year 6
Describe positions on the full coordinate grid in all four quadrants
Read and describe coordinates in all four quadrants.
Lesson overview
Geometry - position and direction
Coordinates are written in the order (x, y). The x-coordinate shows the horizontal movement and the y-coordinate shows the vertical movement. In the full grid, both x and y can be positive or negative.
Use all four quadrants
Points can appear with positive and negative coordinate pairs.
| Point | Quadrant idea |
|---|---|
| (2, 4) | positive x, positive y |
| (-3, 5) | negative x, positive y |
| (-2, -1) | negative x, negative y |
| (4, -3) | positive x, negative y |
The signs help identify the location.
Worked example
Describe the point (-4, 3).
| x | y |
|---|---|
| -4 | 3 |
- Read the x-coordinate first: -4.
- Read the y-coordinate second: 3.
- The point is 4 left and 3 up from the origin.
- So the coordinate is (-4, 3).
Try it
Keep the order x then y, and use the signs to track direction.
Question 1
Which coordinate means 3 across and 2 down?
Question 2
Which point has negative x and positive y?
| x | y |
|---|---|
| - | + |
Question 3
In the coordinate (4, -3), the y-coordinate is:
Question 4
Which coordinate is 4 left and 3 up?
Question 5
Coordinates are written in which order?
x
y
Common mistakes
Watch for these when working through the lesson.
- Swapping the x- and y-coordinates.
- Ignoring the minus sign.
- Thinking all coordinates must be positive.
Related topics
These ideas fit closely with this lesson.
- Draw and translate simple shapes on the coordinate plane, and reflect them in the axes.
- Recognise angles where they meet at a point or are on a straight line.