HORIZONTAL AXIS
Definition Of Horizontal Axis
Horizontal means flat or level.
Horizontal axis is the x-axis on a graph.
The blue number line in the figure below is the x-axis, the horizontal axis.
Video Examples: Acute and Obtuse Angles in Geometry
Solved Example on Horizontal Axis
Ques: Point B is 5 units to the left of point A on the horizontal axis. Find the coordinates of B if A is at (8, 7).
Choices:
A. (3, 7)
B. (13, 7)
C. (7, 8)
D. (8, 12)
Correct Answer: A
Solution:
Step 1: (8, 7) ⇒ 8 on the x-axis and 7 on the y-axis.
Step 2: Point B is 5 units to the left of point A on the horizontal axis, i.e. x-axis.
Step 3: So, the x-coordinate of B is 8 - 5 = 3
Step 4: The coordinates of point B is (3, 7).
Quick Summary
- The horizontal axis is the x-axis.
- It is a reference line for measuring horizontal distance from the origin.
- Points to the right of the origin have positive x-coordinates, and points to the left have negative x-coordinates.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Confusing the x-axis with the y-axis.
- Incorrectly plotting points on the x-axis.
- Not understanding that the x-axis represents the horizontal component of a coordinate.
🌍 Real-World Uses
- Displaying monthly rainfall data on a bar graph, where the horizontal axis represents the months.
- Plotting the growth of a plant over time, with the horizontal axis showing the number of days.
- Representing different categories of survey responses on a pie chart's underlying coordinate system, where the horizontal axis is implicitly used.
📋 Standards Alignment
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.NS.C.6CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.G.A.3
🔗 Related Links
🍎 Teacher Insights
Use physical demonstrations to illustrate the horizontal direction. Have students plot points on a large coordinate grid to reinforce understanding.🎓 Prerequisites
- Number lines
- Basic graphing concepts
Check Your Knowledge
Q1: Which axis is the horizontal axis?
Q2: A point is 5 units to the left of the origin on the horizontal axis. What is its x-coordinate?
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does the x-axis represent?
A: The x-axis represents the horizontal distance from the origin in a coordinate plane.
Q: Where is the x-axis located?
A: The x-axis is the horizontal line that intersects the vertical y-axis at the origin (0,0).