IM3_Ch08.

fm Page 205 Thursday, January 3, 2008 4:58 PM

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Mathematical terms 8

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number plane x-coordinate
• A rectangular y • The first of the coordinates. It tells how far 8
4
grid that right (or left) the point is from the origin.
allows the 3
C(–3, 2) 2 A(3, 2) y-coordinate
position of 2
3 1 1 • The second of the coordinates. It tells how
points in a far the point is above (or below) the origin.
plane to be –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3 x x-intercept
identified by –1 E(0, –1)
• The point where a line crosses the x-axis.
an ordered –2
pair of B(3, –2) y-intercept
–3
D(–2, –3) • The point where a line crosses the y-axis.
numbers.
plot coefficient
• To mark the position of a point on the • The number that multiplies a pronumeral
number plane. in an equation.
graph (a line) eg 3x − 5y = 6
• All the points on a line coefficient of x is 3
or coefficient of y is −5
• to plot the points that lie on a line. constant
quadrants y • The number part of an equation or
• The four 3 expression.
quarters that 2nd 2 1st eg 3x − 5y = 6
the number quadrant
1
quadrant The constant is 6.
plane is interval
–3 –2 –1 1 2 3 x
divided into –1 • The part of a line between two given
by the x- and 3rd –2 4th points.
y-axes. quadrant quadrant
–3 gradient–intercept form
x-axis • A way of writing the equation of a line.
• The horizontal number line in a number eg y = 2x − 5, y = 1--2- x + 2
plane. See 1 under number plane.
When an equation is rearranged and
y-axis written in the form y = mx + b then m is
• The vertical number line in a number the gradient and b is the y-intercept.
plane. See 2 under number plane.
speed
origin • Relative rate of motion or action.
• The point where the x-axis and y-axis distance
intersect, (0, 0). See 3 under number • Defined as: --------------------
time
plane. • Measuring in units such as km/h or m/s.
coordinates travel graph
• A pair of numbers that gives the position • A line graph where distance travelled is
of a point in a number plane relative to plotted against time taken.
the origin. See (3, 2), (3, −2), (−3, 2), • The gradient (or slope) of the line is an
(−2, −3) and (0, −1) under number indication of the speed of the motion.
plane.

Mathematical terms 8

CHAPTER 8 COORDINATE GEOMETRY: GRAPHING STRAIGHT LINES 205