Introductory Algebra
Glossary
Chapter Three
ordered pair
A pair of numbers written within
parentheses in which the order of
the numbers is important.
table of values
An organized way of displaying
ordered pairs.
x-axis
The horizontal number line in a
rectangular coordinate system.
y-axis
The vertical number line in a
rectangular coordinate system.
rectangular coordinate
system
The x-axis and y-axis placed at a
right angle at their zero points, also
called the Cartesian coordinate
system.
quadrant
One of the four regions in the plane
determined by a rectangular
coordinate system.
origin
The point at which the x-axis and yaxis of a rectangular coordinate
system intersect.
coordinate on a number
line
Each number on a number line is
called the coordinate of the point
that it labels.
plot
To locate an ordered pair on a
rectangular coordinate system.
graph of an equation
The set of all points that correspond
to all of the ordered pairs that
satisfy an equation. The graph of a
linear equation in two variables is a
straight line.
x-intercept
The point where a graph intersects
the x-axis.
y-intercept
The point where a graph intersects
the y-axis.
function
A set of ordered pairs (relation) in
which each value of the first
component x corresponds to
exactly one value of the second
component y
subscript notation
A way of indicating two nonspecific
ordered pairs, such as (x1, y1) and
(x2, y2), that satisfy a particular
equation relating x and y.
slope
The ratio of the change in y to the
change in x along a line.
rise
The vertical change between two
points on a line, the change in yvalues.
run
The horizontal change between two
points on a line, the change in xvalues.
parallel lines
Two lines in the same plane that
never intersect.
perpendicular lines
Two lines that intersect to form a
right angle.
Return to
Introductory Algebra
Created by
James Q. Jacobs
Superstition Mountain Campus
Central Arizona College