Plotting Pairs of Ratios on Coordinate Plane

We've already learnt about number planes, which are also called Cartesian planes or coordinate planes.

Just to recap, a number plane is created by two perpendicular lines that we call an $$x-axis and a $$y-axis.  

The $$x-axis is the horizontal line and the $$y-axis is the vertical line.

Where the two axes cross each other is labelled the origin.  It has a zero value on both axes.

Both axes have positive and negative values which are divided by the origin as shown in the diagram below.

 

We can create a grid from the $$2 number lines. When labeling points on the grid, we always use the $$x-value first.  

Plotting Pairs of Ratios

A ratio compares the relationship between two values. It compares how much there is of one thing compared to another. We can also plot pairs of ratios on a number plane. It's a very similar process.

• The first number in a ratio becomes the $$x-value on the number plane.
• The second number in that ratio becomes the $$y-value on a number plane.

For example, if I wanted to plot the ratio $$3:19 on a number plane, I would plot the coordinate $$(3,19). The green dot in the diagram below shows that coordinate. In other words, the $$x value is $$3 and the $$y value is $$19. 

 

More Examples

Question 1

Plot $$13:9 on the coordinate plane.

 

Question 2

Plot $$13:17 on the coordinate plane.

Question 3

Consider the given graph.

a) What ratio has been plotted?

 

b) Which option could be being represented by this graph and ratio?

A) For every 2 green sweets in a mix, there is 1 red sweet.

B) For every 1 green sweet in a mix, there are 2 red sweets.