coordinate

Coordinates are a set of numbers which note the position of a point on a line, on a plane or in a space. For example, any point on a number line is a coordinate.

With two perpendicular axes, which are usually labelled x and y, we can note a position in a plane using two numbers – x-coordinate and y-coordinate. We write the coordinates in brackets, for example (4, –7).

The first number, which either goes to the left or to the right, notes the position of the point on the x-axis. The second number, which either goes up or down, notes the position of the point on the y-axis.

Therefore, starting at the origin (0, 0), the coordinates (4, –7) tell us to move 4 units to the right, and then 7 units down. The ‘across’ coordinate always comes first.