LESSON 3 Using a Coordinate Map

Mr. Origin

Mr. Moreno's class uses Mr. Origin to help make coordinate maps. Mr. Origin stands at the origin and helps keep track of directions when making a map.

The imaginary line running from left to right through Mr. Origin is called the x-axis or the left-right axis. Mr. Origin's right hand is shown with an octagon. It points to the positive part of the x-axis. The line running from back to front through Mr. Origin is called the y-axis or the front-back axis. The positive y-axis is always in front of Mr. Origin. His front is the side with the button. In this picture, Mr. Origin's back is to us.

One way to describe the location of an object relative to Mr. Origin is to use directions (left or right, front or back) and distances. For example, Shannon placed Mr. Origin in the center of her class and said that the center of Mr. Moreno's desk was 200 centimeters to the left and 150 centimeters behind Mr. Origin.