ordinate

Everyday

(maths) The y-coordinate of a point on a graph: how far up or down the point is from the x-axis. tree →

In the lessons

A maths word for graphs and coordinates: in the point (3, 5), 3 is the x-coordinate (abscissa) and 5 is the ordinate. In everyday school maths people mostly say "y-coordinate".

Examples

• In the point (2, 7), the ordinate is 7. tree →
• The ordinate tells you how far up the point is. tree →
• Points on the x-axis have an ordinate of zero. tree →
• Read the ordinate from the vertical axis. tree →
• If the ordinate is negative, the point is below the x-axis. tree →
• The abscissa comes first, then the ordinate. tree →

Note

Technical maths word. Memory trick: x comes first ("along the corridor"), then y ("up the stairs"). The other coordinate is the "abscissa". Not the same as "ordinary" or "coordinate" as a whole pair.