by The Open University
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The coordinates of a point are always given in the form
(value along the x-axis, value along the y-axis).
Two values separated by a comma and enclosed in round brackets form a coordinate pair. Figure 22 shows how the values of the coordinates specify points in the different quadrants. (3,2) is a point in the first quadrant. Its position is specified by moving three units horizontally along the x-axis followed by two units vertically, parallel to the y-axis.
Figure 22 Plotting coordinate pairsLong descriptionSimilarly, in Figure 23, (−21) specifies a point in the second quadrant, (−3, −3) is a point in the third quadrant and (1, −2) is a point in the fourth. No two points on a graph share the same coordinates unless they are at exactly the same position.
Figure 23 Plotting coordinate pairs in different quadrantsLong descriptionGradients for mathematical graphs, are calculated in the usual way by dividing vertical distance by horizontal distance.Figure 24 shows a straight-line graph with two points at the coordinates (1,1) and (3,4).
Figure 24 A straight-line graph with a positive gradientLong descriptionThe vertical distance between the points is just the numerical difference between the two y-coordinates, which is 4−1=3. The horizontal distance is the difference between the two x-coordinates, which is 3−1=2. As the x-coordinate increases (from 1 to 3), the corresponding y-coordinate also increases (from 1 to 4):
Since an increase in the x-coordinate is matched by an increase in the y-coordinate, the graph has a positive gradient. A straight-line graph with a positive gradient always slopes upwards from left to right.
Now look at Figure 25. Here, the plotted coordinates are (1, 4) and (3,1). The vertical distance is still 3 and the horizontal distance is still 2, but the graph is now sloping down from left to right rather than up. This time, as the x-coordinate increases (from 1 to 3), the y-coordinate decreases (from 4 to 1).
Figure 25 A straight-line graph with a negative gradientLong descriptionTreating the change in the y-coordinate as a negative increase (as with bank accounts: a reduction in savings can be thought of as a negative increase in savings), write the change as a negative number:
The graph has a negative gradient. A straight-line graph with a negative gradient always slopes downwards from left to right.
In all the real-world examples so far, the gradient in the relationship formula has been positive. This is because in each case of conversions, increasing one quantity has resulted in an increase in the other (imagine getting fewer francs for more pounds!). There are situations, however, whereincreasingone quantity results in a decrease in the other, and conversely. In these cases, the constant in the formula is negative, as is the gradient of the corresponding straight line.
Points A, B and C are located at the coordinates A = (−6, 5), B = (2, −4) and C = (5,4).
Plot these points on a graph and calculate the gradients of the lines joining A to B, and B to C.
Figure 26 Plot for Activity 10Long description
For the line joining A and B, the x-coordinate changes from −6 to +2, an increase of 8. The y-coordinate changes from 5 to −4, an ‘increase? of −9. So the gradient is negative and equal to (−9)/8=−1.125, and the line slopes down from left to right.
For the line from B to C, the x-coordinate increases by 3, from 2 to 5. The y-coordinate increases by 8, from −4 to 4. So the gradient is positive and equal to 8/3(2.667), and the line slopes up from the left to right.
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