To graph a point, first locate its position on the x-axis, then find its location on the y-axis, and finally plot where these meet. The center point of the graph is called the origin and is written as the point (0, 0) because it’s located at the zero point on the x-axis and the zero point on the y-axis.

What is the rule for reading a set of coordinates?

Coordinates are ordered pairs of numbers; the first number number indicates the point on the x axis and the second the point on the y axis. When reading or plotting coordinates you always go across first and then up (a good way to remember this is: ‘across the landing and up the stairs’).

What do negative coordinates mean?

The coordinate for the line of latitude represents north of the Equator because it is positive. If the number is negative, it represents south of the Equator. The line of longitude is read as 2 degrees (2), 10.4418 minutes (10.4418) east. If the number is negative, it represents west of the Prime Meridian.

How do you read positive and negative coordinates?

It describes the number of units above or below the origin. To plot a point, start at the origin and count along the x axis until you reach the x coordinate, count right for positive numbers, left for negative. Then count up or down the number of the y coordinate (up for positive, down for negative.)

Can you have negative coordinates?

Just as a number line can be extended to deal with negative numbers, the x-axis and y-axis can be extended to deal with negative coordinates. In this way, if a point is to the left of the origin, its x-coordinate is negative, and if it is below the origin, its y-coordinate is negative.

How do you write coordinates in degrees minutes and seconds?

How to Convert Decimal Degrees to DMS

1. For the degrees use the whole number part of the decimal.
2. For the minutes multiply the remaining decimal by 60. Use the whole number part of the answer as minutes.
3. For the seconds multiply the new remaining decimal by 60.

How do you read the coordinates of a location?

Similarly, a coordinates reading starts with degrees, and then narrows down to minutes and seconds in order to pinpoint the exact location, ending with the hemisphere name. To read the coordinates of any location, start with the number of degrees on the latitude line, and clarify whether it is in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere.

What’s the best way to read longitude and latitude?

To read latitude and longitude, break up the coordinates into a series of degrees, minutes and seconds, and locate the hemisphere in which the coordinates sit.

How is the line of longitude read on Google Maps?

The line of longitude is read as 2.17403 degrees east. The coordinate for the line of longitude represents east of the Prime Meridian because it is positive. If the number is negative, it represents west of the Prime Meridian. Reading Coordinates on Google Maps

What do the numbers mean in GPS coordinates?

Divide the earth into the northern and southern hemispheres for the first number when you read GPS coordinates. For example, N 20 degrees stands for the imaginary latitude line 20 degrees North of the equator. The coordinates S 75 05.235′ represent a line slightly more than 75 degrees South of the equator.