This key facts covers Key Methods within Coordinates for GCSE Mathematics. Revise Coordinates in Graphs for GCSE Mathematics with 10 exam-style questions and 20 flashcards. This topic appears regularly enough that it should still be part of a steady revision cycle. It is section 5 of 8 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Key Methods
Reading Coordinates
Always read coordinates as (x, y):
- Start from the origin (0, 0)
- Move horizontally by the x-value (right if positive, left if negative)
- Move vertically by the y-value (up if positive, down if negative)
- Mark the point
Distance Between Points
For points A(x₁, y₁) and B(x₂, y₂):
Distance = √[(x₂ - x₁)² + (y₂ - y₁)²]
Midpoint Formula
For points A(x₁, y₁) and B(x₂, y₂):
Midpoint = ((x₁ + x₂)/2, (y₁ + y₂)/2)
Practice questions for Coordinates
Which point has coordinates (–3, 5)?
A triangle has vertices at P(−1, 2), Q(3, 5) and R(7, 2). Show that the triangle is isosceles.
Quick recall flashcards
What are coordinates?
A pair of numbers (x, y) that describe the exact position of a point on a coordinate plane.
Which axis is vertical?
The y-axis is the vertical axis (runs up and down).