Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) Terms Practice Test

What is a coordinate plane?

A plane formed by perpendicular x- and z-axes used to plot points. A plane formed by perpendicular x- and y-axes used to plot points. A space with three-dimensional coordinates. A line used to measure distance.

Correct Answer:

A plane formed by perpendicular x- and y-axes used to plot points.

Explanation:

A coordinate plane is the two-dimensional surface created by two perpendicular axes—the horizontal x-axis and the vertical y-axis. Their intersection is the origin, and points are plotted using ordered pairs (x, y): move x units along the x-axis from the origin, then y units along the y-axis from there. This setup describes flat space, so it can display all pairs of numbers in two dimensions. If you had a third axis, the z-axis, you’d be in three-dimensional space instead. The other descriptions refer to three-dimensional space or to a line, not a coordinate plane.

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