X And Y Axis In Graph - Definition, Equation, Examples - Cuemath

X and Y Axis

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. In this mini-lesson, we will learn about the x-axis and y-axis and what is x and y-axis in geometry along with solving a few examples.

1.	X and Y-Axis Definition
2.	X and Y-Axis Equation
3.	What Comes First: X-Axis or Y-Axis?
4.	FAQs on X and Y Axis

X and Y-Axis Definition

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. X and y-axis are the axes used in coordinate systems that form a coordinate plane. 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 x-axis is also known as abscissa or x graph whereas the y-axis is also known as ordinate or y graph. The image below shows the respective representation.

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:

X and Y-Axis Equation

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. 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.

What Comes First: X-Axis or Y-Axis?

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.

Important Notes:

• x-axis is also called abscissa.
• y axis is also called ordinate.
• There are infinite points on the x-axis and y-axis.
• Origin is the intersection point of x-axis and y-axis.

Related Topics

Listed below are a few interesting topics related to x and y axis.

• Introduction to Graphing
• Geometry
• Polar Coordinates