/** * https://gist.github.com/samthor/64b114e4a4f539915a95b91ffd340acc */ (function() { var check = document.createElement('script'); if (!('noModule' in check) && 'onbeforeload' in check) { var = false; document.addEventListener('beforeload', function(e) { if (e.target === check) { = true; } else if (!e.target.hasAttribute('nomodule') || !) { return; } e.preventDefault(); }, true); check.type = 'module'; check.src = '.'; document.head.appendChild(check); check.remove(); } }());

What are coordinates?

Part of MathsCoordinatesYear 6

What are coordinates?

There are two children sat at a table thinking beneath a thought bubble. Within the thought bubble are coordinates, (7, 3), (8, 6), (1, 4).

Coordinates are two numbers used to describe a point's position on a grid.

Grids have two axes. The horizontal axis is called the x-axis and the vertical axis is called the y-axis.

Coordinates are always written like this (2, 3).

The first number is the point's position on the x-axis (horizontal axis) and the second tells you its position on the y-axis (vertical axis).

There are two children sat at a table thinking beneath a thought bubble. Within the thought bubble are coordinates, (7, 3), (8, 6), (1, 4).
Back to top

Activity: What are coordinates?

Complete this interactive activity to understand what coordinates are, then put your knowledge to the test.

Back to top

Understanding coordinates on a grid

Coordinates can help you find an exact location on a grid.

You have two axes on the grid: the x-axis (horizontal) and the y-axis (vertical).

To find a point's coordinates, first read along the x-axis and then up the y-axis.

There are 6 point along the x axis. There are also 6 points along the y axis. The coordinate shows a point at (4, 3).

On the grid above, the point is 4 units along the x-axis and 3 units up the y-axis. Its coordinates are (4, 3).

If the point moves 2 units left and 1 unit down, the new coordinates will be (2, 2).

Its new position is shown on the grid below.

There are 6 point along the x axis. There are also 6 points along the y axis. The coordinate shows a faded point at (4, 3) and a highlighted point at (2, 2). There is a dotted line showing a movement back along the x axis by 2 and down the y axis by 1.
Back to top

Example 1

There are 6 point along the x axis. There are also 6 points along the y axis. There is a highlighted square at 5 on the x axis, 1 on the y axis. There is a highlighted circle at 3 on the x axis, 4 on the y axis.

What are the coordinates of the circle?

And, what are the coordinates of the square?

Back to top

Example 2

There are 6 point along the x axis. There are also 6 points along the y axis. There is a highlighted triangle at 2 on the x axis, 4 on the y axis.

Kevin thinks that the triangle’s coordinates are (4, 2). Is he correct?

Back to top

Example 3

There are 6 point along the x axis. There are also 6 points along the y axis. There is a highlighted hexagon shape with the coordinate (3, 1).

The hexagon is at the coordinates (3, 1).

If the hexagon moves two units right and one unit down, what will its new coordinates be?

Back to top

Use your times tables and more maths skills to defeat monsters and reclaim the Kingdom of Mathematica

Play our fun maths game Guardians: Defenders of Mathematica
Back to top

More on Coordinates

Find out more by working through a topic