Skill: Plot ordered pairs from a table of values

A table of values gives matching $x$- and $y$-coordinates. Each row becomes one ordered pair:

$$(x,y)$$

The $x$-coordinate tells you how far to move horizontally. The $y$-coordinate tells you how far to move vertically.

Example

Plot the values in this table:

$x$	$y$
$-2$	$4$
$-1$	$2$
$0$	$0$
$1$	$-2$
$2$	$-4$

Step 1: Turn each row into an ordered pair

Read the $x$-value first and the $y$-value second:

$$(-2,4),\quad (-1,2),\quad (0,0),\quad (1,-2),\quad (2,-4)$$

Step 2: Check the scale

Use a coordinate plane with each grid line representing $1$ unit on both axes. The horizontal axis is the $x$-axis, and the vertical axis is the $y$-axis.

Step 3: Plot each point

Start at the origin, $(0,0)$.

• For $(-2,4)$, move $2$ units left, then $4$ units up.
• For $(-1,2)$, move $1$ unit left, then $2$ units up.
• For $(0,0)$, stay at the origin.
• For $(1,-2)$, move $1$ unit right, then $2$ units down.
• For $(2,-4)$, move $2$ units right, then $4$ units down.

Place a dot at each location and label it if needed. Always move horizontally using the first number, $x$, and vertically using the second number, $y$. Keeping the values in the correct order makes sure each point matches its row in the table.