X and Y Axis in Graph – Definition, Graph, Facts, Examples

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An axis in mathematics is defined as a line that is used to make or mark measurements. The x and y-axis are two important lines of the coordinate plane. The x-axis is a horizontal number line and the y-axis is a vertical number line. These two axes intersect perpendicularly to form the coordinate plane. The x-axis is also called the abscissa and the y-axis is called the ordinate.

x - axis and y - axis

Any point on the coordinate plane can be located or represented using these two axes in the form of an ordered pair of the form (x,y). Here, x represents the location of the point with respect to the x-axis and y represents the location of the point with respect to the y-axis.
The origin is where the two axes intersect and is written as (0,0).

Plotting Points on X and Y Axis

Let us learn how to plot a point on the graph by using the X- and Y-axis.

For example: Let’s try to plot the point B(3,4) on the graph.

Here, the x-coordinate of B is 3. So we will start from the origin and move 3 units to the right on x-axis.

Plotting Points on X and Y-Axis

Now, the y-coordinate of B(3,4) is 4, so we will go 4 spaces up from this point.

y-coordinate  of B(3,4)

And thus we have plotted our point B(3,4) on the graph using the axes.

point B(3,4) on the graph using the axes

Representing a Linear Equation on X- and Y-Axis

To understand how to represent a linear equation on the graph using the X- and Y-axis, 

let us consider a linear equation, y = x + 1. 

Now, let’s build a table to represent the corresponding values of y for different values of x and create their ordered pairs:

xyOrdered pair
01(0,1)
12(1,2)
23(2,3)
34(3,4)

The next step is to plot these ordered pairs on the coordinate plane graph.

Representing a Linear Equation on X and Y-Axis

As a final step, we will join these points to form a straight line and that will be the representation of the equation y = x + 1.

representation of the equation y = x + 1.


Solved Questions On X and Y Axis

Question 1: Which of the following points lie on the x-axis?

(0, 1) (4, 0) (7, 7) (−5, 0)       (−4, 4) (0, −5) (8, 0) (6, 0)

Answer: Since the coordinates lying on x-axis have their y coordinate zero (0), the following points will lie on x-axis:

(4, 0) (−5, 0) (8, 0) (6, 0)

Question 2: Two different points are to be plotted on a graph. If the given points are (3,2) and (2,3), then plot these two points on the X- and Y-axis. Also, find out the point where the straight line going through these points meets the x-axis.

Answer: For (3,2), as we can see, the x-coordinate point is 3, and the y-coordinate point is 2.

Similarly we can plot the point (2,3).

Now, we can join both points with a straight line when we have plotted both points. After extending the straight line, we see that this line intersects the x-axis at point (5,0).

line intersects the x-axis at point (5,0).

Question 3: For a linear equation y = 2x + 6, find the point where the straight line meets y-axis on the graph.

Answer: On y-axis, the x-coordinate of the point is 0. Therefore, we can find the intersection point of y-axis and y = 2x + 6 by simply putting the value of x as 0 and finding the value of y. y = 2(0)+6 = 0 + 6 = 6.

So the straight line of the equation y = 2x + 6 meets the y-axis at (0,6).

Practice Problems On X and Y Axis

X And Y Axis

Attend this Quiz & Test your knowledge.

1

What is the x-axis called?

Ordinate
Abscissa
Applicate
None of the above
CorrectIncorrect
Correct answer is: Abscissa
x - axis is also called abscissa.
2

What is the correct way of representing a point on a graph?

(X-coordinate, X-coordinate)
(Y-coordinate, X-coordinate)
(Y-coordinate, Y-coordinate)
(X-coordinate, Y-coordinate)
CorrectIncorrect
Correct answer is: (X-coordinate, Y-coordinate)
(X-coordinate, Y-coordinate) is the correct way to represent a point.
3

How is the origin point represented on a graph?

(0,0)
(0,x)
(y,0)
(x,y)
CorrectIncorrect
Correct answer is: (0,0)
(0, 0) is the coordinates of origin on the graph.
4

A point (0,5) will be lie on the

X-axis
Y-axis
Origin
None of the above
CorrectIncorrect
Correct answer is: Y-axis
As abscissa (x- coordinate) is 0. So, given point lies on the y-axis.

Frequently Asked Questions On X and Y Axis

The X- and Y-axis are essential for a graphical representation of data. These axes make the coordinate plane. The data is located in coordinates according to their distance from the X- and Y-axis. Graphical representation helps in solving complicated equations.

A coordinate plane is a two-dimensional plane formed by the intersection of two number lines. One of these number lines is a horizontal number line called the x-axis and the other number line is a vertical number line called the y-axis (or ordinate). These two number lines intersect each other perpendicularly and form the coordinate plane.

The two number lines divide the coordinate plane into 4 regions. These regions are called quadrants. The quadrants are denoted by roman numerals and each of these quadrants have their own properties. X and Y have different signs in each quadrant.

  • Quadrant I: (x,y)
  • Quadrant II: (-x,y),
  • Quadrant III: (-x,-y),
  • Quadrant IV: (x,-y).

The X-axis gives the horizontal location of a point, and the Y-axis gives a vertical location of a point.