Section 5.1

The Coordinate Plane

 


What you should learn

To graph ordered pairs on a corrdinate plane

To solve problems by making a table

NCTM Curriculm Standards 2, 3, 6-10

 

In doing this the teacher wants to make sure that the following words are incorporated into the introductory lesson:

Axes

Origin

X-axis

Y-axis

Quadrants

Coordinate Plane

X-Coordinate

Y-Coordinate

 

 

 

Introduction: The first step is to introduce a graph if they have never been exposed to one and the vocabulary they will need to know. The book uses a nice graph and points that are labeled similar to what I have below:

 

Additionally you want to add that the x-axis and y-axis are perpendicular and the two lines are called axes. The plane containing the x-axis and y- axis, that is shown above, is called the coordinate plane.

 

 

 

Exercise 1: Then the students must learn to understand how a point is labeled:

 

This is done by forming an ordered pair. An ordered pair is placed in parentheses and the x-coordinate is always the first coordinate. This number is followed by a comma, and then the y-coordinate. The x-coordinate corresponds to the value that the point is on the x-axis, and the y-coordinate cooresponds to the value that is on the y-axis.

 

 

 

Exercise 2: At this point we now want to give the students an opportunity to be able to start with points and give you the coordinates. With this example, we want to review and use the material from Chapter 4 about making tables. (An example with point A is listed below the graph.)

 

 

 Point

 X-Coordinate

 Y-Coordinate

 Ordered Pair

 Quadrant

 A

 3

 -5

 (3, -5)

 IV

 B

 -1
     

 C
       

 

 

Exercise 3: After this we now want to ensure understanding by stating some coordinates and having the students plot them. For my classes I demand that the studetns are using graph paper and that they have done a practice graph like my first example on graph paper. Here are some points to use once this is done:

N (-3, -5)

K (-4.5, 8)

L (6, 0)

 

 

 

Activity: (For this activity you will need some copies of local maps, for my classes I use Cobb County Maps). Once you have finished going over the lesson, this activity can be started in class and finished what they do not know already for homework.

 

Copy or sketch a map of the major thoroghfares in your community. Using a different color, draw a coordinate system on the map, making your home the origin. find the coordinates of your school, a library, a shopping center or department store, adn your favorite restaurant.

 

 

Further Application: Additionally in the text there is a mapping example that is also very useful. (Real World Application page 256)

 

 

 

Closing Activity: Check for understanding by using this as a quick review before class is over. It should take about the last five to ten minutes. I would use it for my students as their 'ticket out the door'. Click Here.

 

 

 

Homework: The homework to be assigned for tonight would be: to finish class activity and to do page 257-259, #'s 13-39 odd, 40, 41, 43, 44-51 (core)

 

Alternative Homework: Enriched: page 257-259, #'s 14-38 even, 40-51

 

Extra Practice: Students book page 767 Lesson 5-1

 

Extra Practice Worksheet: Click Here.

 

 

 


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