Question
Plot the point \( \left(\frac{9}{2},-\frac{3}{2}\right) \) in a rectangular coordinate system.
Ask by Malone Lewis. in the United States
Jan 24,2025
Real Tutor Solution
Tutor-Verified Answer
Answer
Plot the point \( \left(\frac{9}{2}, -\frac{3}{2}\right) \) by moving 4.5 units to the right on the x-axis and 1.5 units down on the y-axis.
Solution
Sure! Let's plot the point \( \left(\frac{9}{2}, -\frac{3}{2}\right) \) on a rectangular (Cartesian) coordinate system.
### Step-by-Step Guide to Plotting the Point
1. **Understand the Coordinates:**
- **\( x = \frac{9}{2} = 4.5 \):** This is the horizontal distance from the origin (0,0) along the x-axis.
- **\( y = -\frac{3}{2} = -1.5 \):** This is the vertical distance from the origin along the y-axis.
2. **Draw the Coordinate Axes:**
- Draw two perpendicular lines intersecting at the origin (0,0).
- Label the horizontal axis as the **x-axis** and the vertical axis as the **y-axis**.
- Mark equal intervals on both axes for accurate plotting.
3. **Plot the Point:**
- **Move along the x-axis:** From the origin, move **4.5 units to the right** because \( x = \frac{9}{2} \) is positive.
- **Move along the y-axis:** From that point, move **1.5 units down** because \( y = -\frac{3}{2} \) is negative.
- Mark the point where these two movements intersect.
### Visual Representation
Below is a simple ASCII representation of the coordinate system with the point plotted. Note that it's a simplified illustration.
```
y
|
3 |
2 |
1 |
-----|------------------ x
-1 | *
-2 |
|
```
- **Origin (0,0):** Where the x-axis and y-axis intersect.
- **Point \(\left(\frac{9}{2}, -\frac{3}{2}\right)\):** Represented by the asterisk (*) at (4.5, -1.5).
### Detailed Explanation
1. **Along the X-axis:**
- Starting at the origin, move **4.5 units to the right** because the x-coordinate is positive.
2. **Along the Y-axis:**
- From the position at 4.5 on the x-axis, move **1.5 units downward** because the y-coordinate is negative.
3. **Marking the Point:**
- The final position after these movements is the location of the point \( \left(\frac{9}{2}, -\frac{3}{2}\right) \).
### Tips for Accurate Plotting
- **Use Graph Paper:** For more precision, especially with fractional coordinates, graph paper can help maintain accurate scaling.
- **Label the Axes:** Clearly label the x and y axes and mark the units to avoid confusion.
- **Plot Other Points:** To get a better sense of the coordinate system, plot additional points and observe their positions relative to each other.
### Conclusion
By following these steps, you can accurately plot the point \( \left(\frac{9}{2}, -\frac{3}{2}\right) \) on a rectangular coordinate system. If you have access to graphing tools or software (like Desmos, GeoGebra, or even graph paper), it will make the plotting process easier and more precise.
Reviewed and approved by the UpStudy tutoring team
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Beyond the Answer
To plot the point \( \left(\frac{9}{2}, -\frac{3}{2}\right) \), first convert the fractions into decimal form for easier visualization. The x-coordinate \( \frac{9}{2} \) is 4.5, and the y-coordinate \( -\frac{3}{2} \) is -1.5. Now, start at the origin (0,0), move right 4.5 units along the x-axis, and then move downwards 1.5 units along the y-axis. Mark the point there, and you've successfully plotted the point \( \left(4.5, -1.5\right) \) on the graph!