How do you Plot (-9,5)?

1 Answer
Mar 22, 2018

See below:

Explanation:

Firstly, remember that points are written in the form (x,y), where x is the distance on "x-axis" and y is the distance on the "y-axis"

This is pretty confusing, so I'll show you some examples with pictures.
![http://www.mathexpression.com/http://basics-on-drawing-a-graph.html](https://useruploads.socratic.org/HfZoIjM2RP2kq5MPjfUA_displayImage.aspx.jpg)
This is a typical graph. The "x-axis", as you can see, is the horizontal line and the "y-axis" is the vertical line.

Your point is (-9,5) and the word plot means "to graph a point".

Putting your finger on the 0, count to the left 9 spaces, to the -9 space. Since it is negative, we moved to the left. That is the placement on the "x-axis".

Now move your finger up 5 spaces, to the fifth vertical line. Because it is positive, we moved up. This is the placement on the "y-axis".

Draw a little dot right where your finger is. It should be right here: ![https://www.desmos.com/calculator](useruploads.socratic.org)

That is how you graph the point (-9,5).

*Note: This graph makes it look like the point is on (-10,5), but it is actually on line -9. Sorry for the bad graph!