An ordered pair locates a point on the coordinate plane, written with the x-coordinate first and the y-coordinate second. The order is what makes (3, 5) a different point from (5, 3).
Math Dictionary / Ordered Pair
Ordered Pair
An ordered pair is two numbers written to locate a point on the coordinate plane.
GeometryGrade 5Grade 6Grade 7Grade 8Algebra 1GEDSATACT
What it means
It is written as (x, y): the x-value comes first, and the y-value comes second.
Also called: coordinate pair
Examples
| (3, 4) |
| (-2, 5) |
| (0, 0) |
Common mistake
The order matters. (2, 5) and (5, 2) are different points.
Try one
Question: In the ordered pair (6, -1), what is the x-coordinate?
Show answer
The x-coordinate is 6.