x and y graph also known as the x and y-axis are two important lines that make a graph. A graph consists of a horizontal axis and a vertical axis where data can be represented. A point can be described in a horizontal way or a vertical way, which can be easily understood using a graph. These horizontal and vertical lines or axis in a graph are the x-axis and y-axis respectively. Let us learn more about the x and y graph in math, the table, the charts, and solve a few examples to understand the concept better.
| 1. | Definition of X and Y Graph |
| 2. | Difference Between X and Y-Axis Graph |
| 3. | Graph an Equation on X and Y Graph |
| 4. | Equation of Y-Axis |
| 5. | Equation of X-Axis |
| 6. | FAQs on X and Y Graph |
Definition of X and Y Graph
A x and y graph can be defined by the two axes i.e. x-axis and the y-axis that form a coordinate plane for a graph. The horizontal axis is represented by the x-axis and the vertical axis is represented by the y-axis. The point where the x and y-axis intersect is known as the origin and is used as the reference point for the plane. The image below represents the coordinate plane with both axes.
The x-axis on the graph is also known as abscissa. The y-axis on the graph is also known as ordinate. Any point on the coordinate plane is well defined by an ordered pair where the ordered pair is written as (x-coordinate,y-coordinate) or (x,y), where x-coordinate represents a point on the x-axis or perpendicular distance from the y-axis and y-coordinate represents a point on the y-axis or perpendicular distance from the x-axis. An x and y graph has 4 quadrants i.e. each perpendicular line is one quadrant. The image below describes the x and y graph with both positive and negative coordinates.
For example: The population of a city from 2015 to 2020 is given in the X and Y graph table as:
| Years | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| People in Millions | 1 | 1.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 3 | 3.5 |
To locate any point on the coordinate plane, we use an ordered pair where the ordered pair is written as (x-coordinate,y-coordinate) or (x, y), where x-coordinate represents a point on the x-axis or perpendicular distance from the y-axis and y-coordinate represents a point on the y-axis or perpendicular distance from the x-axis, therefore it is clear from above that x-axis comes first when writing the ordered pair to locate a point. We can see here that the location of each point on the graph is noted as an ordered pair where the x-axis or x-coordinate leads the y-axis or y-coordinate. Then to represent these points on the x and y chart, using years on the x-axis and the corresponding population on the y-axis as:
Difference Between X and Y-Axis Graph
The x and y graph consists of the x-axis and y-axis that form the coordinate plane of a graph where numbers are represented for comparison or even forming linear equations. There are many differences between the x-axis and y-axis even though it shares the same origin point. Let us see the differences:
| x-axis of a graph | y-axis of a graph |
| It is a horizontal plane of a graph in a cartesian coordinate system that gives a numerical value at each point. | It is a vertical plane of a graph in a cartesian coordinate system that gives a numerical value at each point. |
| The x-axis is called abscissa. | The y-axis is called ordinate. |
| The variables on the x-axis represent the cause of the data. | The variables on the y-axis represent the effect of the cause of the data. |
| The numbers placed on the x-axis are called x-coordinates. | The numbers placed on the y-axis are called y-coordinates. |
| The x-axis is a horizontal line with 0 as the origin, positive numbers on the right, and negative numbers on the left. | The y-axis is drawn vertically from bottom to top with the same origin as the x-axis with positive numbers on top and negative numbers at the bottom. |
| The coordinates referring to the x-axis are written as (x, y). | The coordinates referring to the y-axis are written as (y, x). |
Graph an Equation on X and Y Graph
On the x and y graph, a linear equation can be graphed showing the coordinates of both the x-axis and y-axis. In geometry, a linear equation can be graphed by using the x and y graph and it is represented as a straight line. Let us look at an example to understand this better:
Let's consider a linear equation y = 2x + 1. Now to graph this equation construct a table having two columns for values of x and y. Let us choose some values for the variable x and find the corresponding values for y. If x = 1, then y = 2 × 1 + 1 = 3. If x = 2, then y = 2 × 2 + 1 = 5 and son on. Here we are taking the values of just three points starting from 0. To draw the x and y-axis coordinate graph of the linear equation, we need to draw the x and y-axis grid table for at least two points.
| x | y |
| 0 | 1 |
| 1 | 3 |
| 2 | 5 |
Now draw the points on the graph where the values of x lie on x-axis and the corresponding values of y lie on y-axis. Then join the points with a straight line to draw the graph of the equation.
Equation of Y-Axis
Y-axis is the line where the values of x-coordinate are zero for all the values of y. Then the data points for the y-axis are: (0, -1), (0, 0.5), (0, 1), (0, 1.5). Therefore the equation of the y-axis is x = 0 and its graph on the x and y graph chart is shown below. If we substitute the value of x as 0 in the general equation y = mx + c, we can find the coordinates for y.
Equation of X-axis
X-axis is the line where the values of y-coordinate are zero for all the values of x. Then the data points for the x-axis are: (1,0), (-1.5, 0) Therefore the equation of the x-axis is y = 0, and its graph on the x and y graph chart is shown below. If we substitute the value of y as 0 in the general equation y = mx + c, we can find the coordinates for x.
Related Topics
Listed below are a few interesting topics that are related to the x and y graph, take a look.
- Introduction to Graphing
- Geometry
- Polar Coordinates
FAQs on X and Y Graph
What is X and Y Graph?
The x and y graph is a visual representation of data that is shown in a graph with the x-axis and y-axis that form the coordinate planes. The x-axis on the graph is also known as abscissa whereas the y-axis is known as ordinate. Any point on the coordinate plane is well defined by an ordered pair where the ordered pair is written as (x-coordinate,y-coordinate) or (x,y), where x-coordinate represents a point on the x-axis or perpendicular distance from the y-axis and y-coordinate represents a point on the y-axis or perpendicular distance from the x-axis. An x and y graph has 4 quadrants.
How Do I Graph an Equation on X and Y Graph?
To graph an equation, first, construct a table having two columns for values of x and y by substituting the values of x and y in the equation starting from 0. Then draw the points on the graph where the values of x lie on the x-axis and the corresponding values of y lie on the y-axis. Then join the points to draw the graph of the equation. Usually, it is a straight line that is either diagonal, vertical or horizontal while plotting a linear equation.
Which Point is on the Negative Y-axis on an X and Y Graph?
The point which has a negative value of its y-coordinate is on the negative y-axis. Since the y axis is the vertical line that starts from the bottom to the top, the negative numbers lie in the bottom area of the area and cover the 3rd and 4th quadrants of the graph.
Which is X-axis and Which is the Y-axis in an X and Y Graph?
The horizontal axis is known as the x-axis and the vertical axis is known as the y-axis. The origin 0 is the common factor for both axes. The x-axis showcases the cause of the data while the y-axis showcases the effect of the data. For example, while showing temperature in New York, the x-axis shows the weeks and the y-axis will show the temperature. Every point on both the axes will show the preceding value starting from 0.
How Do You Plot a Graph with the X and Y-axis?
At first, we draw and label the x and y-axis. Then we plot the coordinates of the function at various values of the x and y-coordinates. Then we connect the coordinates and plot the graph of a function.
What Are the Names of the X-axis and Y-axis on the X and Y Graph?
The vertical axis i.e. the y-axis is known as the abscissa-axis. And the x-axis is known as the ordinate-axis.
