Math notes/Pre-Calculus/Analytic Geometry

The Coordinate Plane — Cheat sheet

CHEAT SHEET · FREE

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The address system

$\mathbb{R} \times \mathbb{R} = \mathbb{R}^2$ : every point is one ordered pair $P(x, y)$ . $x$ = abscissa (horizontal), $y$ = ordinate (vertical). Order matters.

Distances and locations

Fact	Form
Distance to $y$ -axis	$\\|x\\|$
Distance to $x$ -axis	$\\|y\\|$
On the $x$ -axis	$(a, 0)$
On the $y$ -axis	$(0, a)$
Origin	$(0, 0)$

Sign quick-read

$x > 0$ right, $x < 0$ left; $y > 0$ above, $y < 0$ below.