Skill: Read ordered pairs

An ordered pair is written as $(x,y)$:

• The first number tells the horizontal position, or $x$-coordinate.
  • Positive: move right
  • Negative: move left
  • Zero: stay on the $y$-axis
• The second number tells the vertical position, or $y$-coordinate.
  • Positive: move up
  • Negative: move down
  • Zero: stay on the $x$-axis

Always read the coordinates in order: $x$ first, then $y$.

Example

Read the point $(-3,2)$.

1. Look at the first coordinate: $-3$.
   From the origin, move $3$ units left because the number is negative.

2. Look at the second coordinate: $2$.
   From there, move $2$ units up because the number is positive.

3. The point is in Quadrant II, where $x$ is negative and $y$ is positive.

So, the point $(-3,2)$ is $3$ units left and $2$ units up from the origin. Do not reverse the coordinates: $(-3,2)$ is different from $(2,-3)$.