X-axis

Definition

The x-axis is the horizontal line in a coordinate plane that represents the independent variable or the values along the horizontal dimension. It is the primary reference line for measuring the positions of points along the horizontal direction.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The x-axis is the horizontal reference line in a coordinate plane that is used to measure the horizontal position of a point.
2. The x-coordinate of a point on the coordinate plane represents its position along the x-axis.
3. In the context of graphing linear equations, the x-axis is used to plot the independent variable.
4. When graphing linear inequalities, the x-axis is the reference line for the horizontal position of the boundary line.
5. The x-axis is a crucial component in determining the distance and midpoint between two points on the coordinate plane.

Review Questions

• Explain the role of the x-axis in graphing linear equations in two variables.
  • When graphing linear equations in two variables, the x-axis represents the independent variable. The x-coordinate of a point on the graph corresponds to the value of the independent variable, while the y-coordinate represents the dependent variable. The x-axis is used to plot the values of the independent variable, which is typically the variable that is manipulated or changed to observe its effect on the dependent variable.
• Describe how the x-axis is used in the graphing of linear inequalities in two variables.
  • In the context of graphing linear inequalities in two variables, the x-axis serves as the reference line for the horizontal position of the boundary line. The x-coordinate of points on the graph represents the values of the independent variable, and the x-axis is used to determine the region that satisfies the given linear inequality. The orientation and position of the boundary line on the coordinate plane are determined by the coefficients of the independent variable in the inequality.
• Analyze the importance of the x-axis in the formulas for distance and midpoint between two points on the coordinate plane.
  • The x-axis is a crucial component in the distance and midpoint formulas for points on the coordinate plane. The x-coordinates of the points are used in the calculations to determine the horizontal distance between them and to find the midpoint, which represents the average of the x-coordinates. The x-axis provides the reference for measuring the horizontal position of the points, which is essential for accurately calculating the distance and midpoint between them.

Related terms

Coordinate Plane: A two-dimensional plane that uses perpendicular x-axis and y-axis to locate and plot points.

Independent Variable: The variable that is manipulated or changed to observe its effect on the dependent variable.

Horizontal Axis: The axis that runs left-to-right, representing the horizontal dimension of a coordinate plane.