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How to Plot a Picture on Graph Paper

Plotting points on a coordinate grid is an algebraic concept taught in elementary school. To plot a picture on graph paper you must have a list of ordered pairs. Each ordered pair consists of an "x" and "y" value. The x value tells you to move to the right or left on a coordinate grid. The "y" value tells you whether to move up or down when determining the location of the point.

Instructions

    • 1

      Draw a horizontal line in the middle of the graph paper on a grid line. Label this line X. Use the list of ordered pairs

    • 2

      Draw a vertical line in the middle of the graph paper on a grid line. Label this line Y.

    • 3

      Number the grid lines on the x and y axis from origin (where the x and y axis cross at point {0,0}). Write the positive numbers to to the right and above origin. To determine the intervals, look at the ordered pairs that will be used to create the picture. If the numbers are low, you may choose increments of one. If the numbers are high, the increments may be in 10s, 20s or 50s.

    • 4

      Begin to plot the points by placing your pencil tip at origin(0,0). Look at the first coordinate (x) in the first ordered pair. Move your pencil the number of spaces indicated by the number. If the value is positive, you move right. If the value is negative, you move left.

    • 5

      Look at the second coordinate (y) in the first ordered pair. Move your pencil the number of spaces indicated by the number. If the y value is positive, you move up. If the y value is negative, you move down. Place a point at this location.

    • 6

      Repeat steps 4 and 5 for all of the ordered pairs.

    • 7

      Connect the points to construct the picture. The instructions to determine which points to connect should be given.

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