Coordinate Geometry (MYP) Flashcards
Creating, reading, and interpreting linear graphs
What does “gradient” or “slope” describe in normal English words?
It describes how steep or slanty a line is.
What is a “coordinate” or “coordinate pair”?
It’s two numbers inside brackets that tell you where a point is.
(x, y)
The first value tells you how far left/right it is from the origin. The second value tells you how far up/down it is from the origin.
What does “y-coordinate” mean?
It’s the second value in a coordinate (x,y).
What does “x-coordinate” mean?
It’s the first value in a coordinate (x,y).
How can we use the gradient to see that two lines are perpendicular?
The gradients of perpendicular lines are the negative reciprocal. For example,
What is a quadrant?
A quarter of the graph.
What does “x-intercept” mean?
Where the line crosses the x-axis.
What does y-intercept mean?
Where the line crosses the y-axis.
What is an independent variable?
It’s the variable that influences another.
For example, the grade you get on a test depends on how much you study. Therefore, the amount you study is an independent variable.
What is a dependent variable?
It’s the variable that depends on the other.
For example, the grade you get on a test depends on how much you study. Therefore, your grade is a dependent variable.
On which axis do we put the independent variable?
The horizontal axis. (The x-axis.)
What does “linear” mean when graphing?
It makes a straight line.
What is the gradient of a vertical line?
The gradient of a vertical line is undefined.
What is the gradient of a flat horizontal line?
0
(Because we go zero steps up, and 0 ÷ anything=0.)
How can we use the gradient to see that two lines are parallel?
Parallel lines have the same gradient.
How do you calculate the gradient?
