NCERT Class 7 Maths Chapter 13
Connecting the Dots
This chapter from Ganita Prakash Part 2 introduces CBSE Class 7 students to the Cartesian coordinate system and the concept of plotting points on a graph. Students learn to identify axes, quadrants, and ordered pairs, and explore how graphs are used to represent relationships between two quantities. The chapter connects algebra and geometry through graphical representations of linear relationships.
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Key Terms
- Cartesian Plane
- A two-dimensional plane formed by two perpendicular number lines called axes — the horizontal X-axis and the vertical Y-axis — intersecting at the origin (0, 0).
- Coordinates
- An ordered pair (x, y) that specifies the exact position of a point on the Cartesian plane. The first number is the x-coordinate (horizontal position) and the second is the y-coordinate (vertical position).
- Origin
- The point where the X-axis and Y-axis intersect on the Cartesian plane, represented by the coordinates (0, 0).
- Quadrant
- One of the four regions into which the Cartesian plane is divided by the X-axis and Y-axis. They are numbered I to IV anticlockwise starting from the top right.
- X-axis
- The horizontal number line on the Cartesian plane along which x-coordinates are measured. Points to the right of origin have positive x values; to the left are negative.
- Y-axis
- The vertical number line on the Cartesian plane along which y-coordinates are measured. Points above the origin have positive y values; below are negative.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Cartesian coordinate system?▾
The Cartesian coordinate system is a method of locating points on a plane using two perpendicular number lines: the horizontal X-axis and the vertical Y-axis. Any point is described by an ordered pair (x, y), where x is the horizontal distance from the origin and y is the vertical distance.
How do you plot a point on the Cartesian plane?▾
To plot a point (x, y): start at the origin, move x units horizontally (right if positive, left if negative), then move y units vertically (up if positive, down if negative). Mark the point at that location.
What are the four quadrants of the Cartesian plane?▾
Quadrant I: x positive, y positive (top right). Quadrant II: x negative, y positive (top left). Quadrant III: x negative, y negative (bottom left). Quadrant IV: x positive, y negative (bottom right).
What is the difference between x-coordinate and y-coordinate?▾
In an ordered pair (x, y), the x-coordinate (also called abscissa) gives the horizontal position of the point — how far left or right from the origin. The y-coordinate (also called ordinate) gives the vertical position — how far up or down from the origin.
How is a graph used to show the relationship between two quantities?▾
A graph plots pairs of values (x, y) as points on the Cartesian plane. If the points form a straight line, the relationship between the quantities is linear. For example, plotting distance vs time for uniform motion gives a straight line, showing that distance increases proportionally with time.
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