
The coordinates (2,3) indicate a point 2 units to the right of the origin and 3 units up.
The coordinates (-4,-1) indicate a point 4 units to the left of the origin and 1 unit down.
Some people remember this as "along the corridor and up the stairs" or "x is a cross, wise up!"

Software/Applets used on this page
Glossary
coordinate
One of the measurements of distance of a point from the axes of the graph.
graph
A diagram showing a relationship between two variables.
The diagram shows a vertical y axis and a horizontal x axis.
The diagram shows a vertical y axis and a horizontal x axis.
origin
The point from where all measurements of coordinates are made; usually the point where the two axes of a graph cross.
union
The union of two sets A and B is the set containing all the elements of A and B.
This question appears in the following syllabi:
Syllabus | Module | Section | Topic | Exam Year |
---|---|---|---|---|
AQA GCSE (9-1) Foundation (UK) | A: Graphs | A8: Understanding Coordinates | Coordinates in All Four Quadrants | - |
CBSE IX (India) | Coordinate Geometry | Coordinate Geometry | Coordinates | - |
CIE IGCSE (9-1) Maths (0626 UK) | 5 Co-ordinate Geometry | C5.1 Cartesian Co-ordinates | Coordinates in All Four Quadrants | - |
Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Foundation (UK) | A: Graphs | A8: Understanding Coordinates | Coordinates in All Four Quadrants | - |
GCSE Foundation (UK) | Algebra | Coordinates | Finding coordinates | - |
OCR GCSE (9-1) Foundation (UK) | 7: Graphs of Equations and Functions | 7.01a: x- and y-Coordinates | Coordinates in All Four Quadrants | - |
Universal (all site questions) | C | Coordinates | Finding coordinates | - |