Coordinate Plane Vocabulary Worksheet

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NameDateMade at homeroomtools.comDraw a line from each one on the left to its partner on the right.Coordinate plane vocabularycoordinate planex-axisy-axisoriginquadrantordered pairabscissaordinatecoordinatepointgridnumber linethe reference line that runs upand downtwo numbers in a set order,written like (3, 5)any of the four parts the axessplit the plane intoa flat surface where every pointis named by two numbersthe second number of a point:how far up or down it isthe reference line that runs leftand righta mesh of evenly spaced lines,across and upa number that helps fix where apoint liesan exact position, shown on agraph by a dotthe spot numbered (0, 0), wherethe x-axis meets the y-axisa straight line marked withnumbers at even stepsthe first number of a point: howfar left or right it is
NameDateMade at homeroomtools.comDraw a line from each one on the left to its partner on the right.Coordinate plane vocabularyAnswer keycoordinate planex-axisy-axisoriginquadrantordered pairabscissaordinatecoordinatepointgridnumber linethe reference line that runs upand downtwo numbers in a set order,written like (3, 5)any of the four parts the axessplit the plane intoa flat surface where every pointis named by two numbersthe second number of a point:how far up or down it isthe reference line that runs leftand righta mesh of evenly spaced lines,across and upa number that helps fix where apoint liesan exact position, shown on agraph by a dotthe spot numbered (0, 0), wherethe x-axis meets the y-axisa straight line marked withnumbers at even stepsthe first number of a point: howfar left or right it is
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All 36 terms

The coordinate plane 12

  • abscissa The first number of a point: how far left or right it is. In (3, 5) the abscissa is 3. It is also called the x-coordinate.
  • coordinate A number that helps fix where a point lies. Every point of the plane is fixed by a pair of coordinates.
  • coordinate plane A flat surface where every point is named by two numbers. A coordinate plane is drawn with an x-axis and a y-axis.
  • grid A mesh of evenly spaced lines, across and up. Graph paper is printed with a grid.
  • number line A straight line marked with numbers at even steps. Zero sits between the negative and positive numbers on a number line.
  • ordered pair Two numbers in a set order, written like (3, 5). (2, 7) and (7, 2) are different ordered pairs.
  • ordinate The second number of a point: how far up or down it is. In (3, 5) the ordinate is 5. It is also called the y-coordinate.
  • origin The spot numbered (0, 0), where the x-axis meets the y-axis. Counting for every point starts at the origin.
  • point An exact position, shown on a graph by a dot. The point (2, 3) is 2 to the right of the origin and 3 up.
  • quadrant Any of the four parts the axes split the plane into. In the first quadrant both numbers are positive.
  • x-axis The reference line that runs left and right. Points on the x-axis have a second number of 0.
  • y-axis The reference line that runs up and down. Points on the y-axis have a first number of 0.
Show all 36 terms (24 more)

Lines and slope 12

  • distance The length of the gap between two points. The distance from (0, 0) to (3, 4) is 5.
  • horizontal Flat, in the direction of the x-axis. The line y = 3 is horizontal.
  • linear equation An equation that graphs as a line, such as y = 2x + 1. y = 2x + 3 is a linear equation.
  • parallel Never crossing, however far the lines are extended. The lines y = 2x and y = 2x + 3 are parallel.
  • perpendicular Crossing at a right angle. The x-axis and the y-axis are perpendicular.
  • rise How far a line goes up or down between two points. From (1, 2) to (4, 8) the rise is 6.
  • run How far a line goes across between two points. From (1, 2) to (4, 8) the run is 3.
  • slope A line's steepness, written as one number. A slope of 2 means the line climbs 2 for each step of 1 across.
  • slope-intercept form A line's equation written as y = mx + b. In y = 2x + 3, m is 2 and b is 3.
  • vertical Upright, in the direction of the y-axis. The line x = 2 is vertical.
  • x-intercept The spot on the x-axis that a line passes through. The line y = 2x − 4 has its x-intercept at (2, 0).
  • y-intercept The spot on the y-axis that a line passes through. The line y = 2x + 3 has its y-intercept at (0, 3).

Graphing words 12

  • counterclockwise Turning the way a clock's hands would if they ran backward. The four quadrants are numbered counterclockwise.
  • dependent variable The quantity that responds to the change, shown along y. In a graph of distance against time, distance is the dependent variable.
  • graph A drawing that shows how two sets of numbers are related. A graph of a child's height against age rises from left to right.
  • independent variable The quantity you choose or change, shown along x. In a graph of distance against time, time is the independent variable.
  • line of best fit A straight line drawn as near the plotted points as it can. The trend of a scatter plot can be drawn as a line of best fit.
  • negative Having a value below zero. To the left of the origin, the first number of a point is negative.
  • positive Having a value above zero. To the right of the origin, the first number of a point is positive.
  • reflection A figure flipped over a line so it faces the other way. Reflecting (2, 3) across the y-axis gives (−2, 3).
  • rotation The turning of a shape around one point that stays put. A quarter turn counterclockwise about the origin takes (1, 0) to (0, 1).
  • scatter plot A graph of loose dots, each standing for two measurements. Each dot of a scatter plot stands for one pair of measurements.
  • translation A move of a whole figure with no turn and no flip. Moving (1, 2) right 3 gives (4, 2).
  • trend The general direction in which plotted data moves. Points that climb from left to right show a rising trend.

How this list was compiled: Term list chosen for this site on 2026-10-02. Each meaning is written in our own words and was checked that day against the entry for the term in Wiktionary, the free dictionary (https://en.wiktionary.org/), whose text is under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license, and against the articles Cartesian coordinate system (the axes, the origin, the quadrants and their numbering, abscissa and ordinate), Slope (rise and run) and Linear equation (slope-intercept form) in English Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/), whose text is under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license. Every example is our own working. The example after each meaning is our own. Licence: own work

How it works

This coordinate plane vocabulary worksheet prints twelve terms down the left and their meanings, mixed up, down the right. Three sets cover the plane itself, lines and slope, and graphing words.

Read the full guide

Three sets

Set opens on The coordinate plane: x-axis, y-axis, origin, quadrant, ordered pair, coordinate, point and grid. Lines and slope has slope, rise, run, y-intercept, x-intercept and slope-intercept form.

A graphing vocabulary worksheet

Set to Graphing words, the sheet prints graph, scatter plot, line of best fit, trend, independent and dependent variable, positive, negative, translation, reflection and rotation. Under the tool each term has an example with numbers: From (1, 2) to (4, 8) the rise is 6.

  • Abscissa and ordinate are the x-coordinate and the y-coordinate under their dictionary names; the list under the tool says so.

Questions and answers

What are the parts of a coordinate plane?

Two reference lines, the x-axis and the y-axis, cross at the origin, (0, 0). They cut the plane into four quadrants. Every point is named by an ordered pair such as (3, 5).

What is the difference between the x-axis and the y-axis?

The x-axis runs left and right, and the first number of an ordered pair is counted along it. The y-axis runs up and down, and the second number is counted along it.

How are the quadrants numbered?

Counterclockwise, starting at the upper right, where both numbers of a point are positive. Roman numerals are used: I, II, III and IV.

Are these also coordinate grid vocabulary worksheets?

Yes: the sheet covers the same terms, whichever name your class uses for the plane. The answer key prints as the last page, with a line from each term to its meaning.

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