If a point has the coordinates (5, -3), which axis is it closer to: the x-axis or the y-axis? Justify your answer.

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To determine which axis the point **(5, -3)** is closer to—the **x-axis** or the **y-axis**—we can calculate the perpendicular distance from the point to each axis.

### Distance to the **x-axis**
The distance from a point to the x-axis is determined by the absolute value of its **y-coordinate**.

$$
\text{Distance to x-axis} = |y| = |-3| = 3 \text{ units}
$$

### Distance to the **y-axis**
Similarly, the distance from a point to the y-axis is determined by the absolute value of its **x-coordinate**.

$$
\text{Distance to y-axis} = |x| = |5| = 5 \text{ units}
$$

### Comparison
- **Distance to x-axis**: **3 units**
- **Distance to y-axis**: **5 units**

Since **3 units** (distance to the x-axis) is less than **5 units** (distance to the y-axis), the point **(5, -3)** is **closer to the x-axis**.

### Visual Representation

Here's a simple diagram to illustrate:

```
y
|
|         (5, -3)
|          *
|          
|_________________ x
```

- The point (5, -3) is **3 units** away vertically from the x-axis.
- It is **5 units** away horizontally from the y-axis.

Therefore, the point is closer to the **x-axis**.
The point (5, -3) is closer to the x-axis because its y-coordinate's absolute value (3) is less than its x-coordinate's absolute value (5).

If a point has the coordinates (5, -3), which axis is it closer to: the x-axis or the y-axis? Justify your answer.

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