Finding Lengths on the Coordinate Plane Horizontal & Vertical Lines on a Coordinate Plane
Finding Lengths of Horizontal Lines on a Coordinate Plane Horizontal Lines have the same y-coordinate Example: (2, 1) and (5, 1) If points are on the opposite sides of the y-axis, then they have different signs. Example: (2, 1) and (-3, 1)
Horizontal - Points on the Same Side Points on the same side of the y-axis Same side = same sign! To find the length Count the distance between the x-coordinates (or subtract them) Example: (2, 1) and (5, 1) The distance from 2 to 5 = 3, so the distance is 3 units. 5 – 2 = 3
Horizontal - Points on the Opposite Side Points on the opposite side of the y-axis Opposite side = Opposite signs To find the length Find the Absolute Value of each of the x-coordinates Add the two absolute values Example: (2, 1) and (-3, 1) 2 and -3 are on opposite sides. Absolute values are 2 & 3 , so the distance between the points is 5 units.
Finding Lengths of Vertical Lines on a Coordinate Plane Vertical Lines have the same x-coordinate Example: (2, 4) and (2, 9) If points are on the opposite sides of the x-axis, then they have different signs. Example: (-5, 4) and (-5, -2)
Vertical - Points on the Same Side Points on the same side of the x-axis Same side = same sign! To find the length Count the distance between the y-coordinates (or subtract them) Example: (-1, 6) and (-1, 4) The distance from 4 to 6 = 2, so the distance is 2 units. 6 – 4 = 2
Vertical - Points on the Opposite Side Points on the opposite side of the x-axis Opposite side = Opposite signs To find the length Find the Absolute Value of each of the y-coordinates Add the two absolute values Example: (5, 4) and (5, -2) Since 4 is a positive and 2 is a negative, the points are on opposite sides of the axis. is 4 + 2 4 + 2 = 6, so the distance between the two points is 6 units
Lines and No lines Neither Horizontal or Vertical Points with different x-coordinates and different y-coordinates do not form a horizontal or vertical line. Example: (-3, 2) and (5, 6) Lie on the X-axis Points that lie on the x-axis and have a y-coordinate of 0. Example: (8, 0) and (7, 0) Lie on the Y-axis Points that lie on the y-axis and have an x-coordinate of 0. Example: (0, 4) and (0, 10)