A coordinate graph (often referred to as a coordinate axes or coordinate grid), is a two-dimensional number line where the two lines are perpendicular to one another.

• The horizontal axis is the x-axis. • The vertical axis is the y-axis. • A location in the grid is referred to as an ordered pair (or as "the coordinates"). • The point where the axes intersect is called the origin labeled with ordered pair (0,0). • An ordered pair lists the x-axis value first, followed by the y-axis value in the form (x, y). • The axes in a coordinate grid form four sections called quadrants (quadrants I, II, III and IV).

Plotting points on a coordinate grid: Remember that an ordered pair is in the form (x,y). • first move left or right on the x-axis. • then move up or down on the y-axis. • plot the point where these locations intersect. • label the point using an ordered pair (x, y)

Reflection over y-axis: When a point is reflected over the y-axis, the x-coordinate changes its sign.     (2,4) becomes (-2,4) or vice versa Notice that the point and its reflection are both two units horizontally away from the y-axis. (x,y) becomes (-x,y) Reflection over the x-axis: When a point is reflected over the x-axis, the y-coordinate changes its sign.     (3,2) becomes (3,-2) or vice versa Notice that the point and its reflection are both two units vertically away from the x-axis. (x,y) becomes (x,-y)

Reflection over both axes: A reflection over both axes is a combination of a reflection over the x-axis and a reflection over the y-axis (in either order). Following the pattern shown at the right, the point (2,3) is first reflected over the x-axis, and is then reflected over the y-axis. The ending point, (-2,-3), is a reflection over both axes. In a reflection over both axes, both coordinates change their signs. (x,y) becomes (-x,-y)

On the graph at the right, the distance from point A to point B can be counted to be 6 units.

Since we are determining horizontal distance, we are examining the change in the x-coordinates. We are looking to find the distance from x = -4 to x = 2.

On a number line, we can count the distance from -4 to 2 and get 6 (which is essentially how we counted on the grid).

This same approach can be used to find the distance from point C to point D. Since this distance is vertical, we are examining the y-coordinates. We need to find the distance from y = 1 to y = -3.
By counting, we find this distance to be 4 units.
Using absolute value, we have    | 1 - (-3) | = 4   or    | -3 - 1 | = 4.

But what happens if the distance between the points is "diagonal" instead of vertical or horizontal (such as the distance from A(-4,3) to C(4,1))?
We will have an answer to this question when we develop a friendship with the Pythagorean Theorem under the Geometry section.