Which of the following is defined to be the point of intersection of the x- and y-axes?
A. The origin
B. An ordered pair
C. The xy-plane
Answer (2)
The origin is the point where the x-axis and y-axis intersect.
An ordered pair represents a point in the coordinate plane.
The xy-plane is the entire two-dimensional coordinate plane.
The point of intersection of the x- and y-axes is the origin: A
Explanation
Analyze the options. The question asks us to identify the correct term for the point where the x-axis and y-axis intersect in a coordinate plane. Let's consider each option:
The origin: This is the point where the x-axis and y-axis intersect, and it has coordinates (0, 0).
An ordered pair: This is a pair of numbers (x, y) that represent a point in the coordinate plane. While the origin is an ordered pair, the question asks for the definition of the intersection point.
The xy-plane: This is the entire two-dimensional coordinate plane, not just a single point.
Determine the correct answer. Based on the analysis, the point of intersection of the x- and y-axes is called the origin.
State the final answer. Therefore, the correct answer is A. The origin.
Examples
Understanding the origin is crucial in various real-world applications. For example, in navigation systems, the origin can represent a starting point, and all other locations are referenced relative to it. Similarly, in economics, the origin on a graph might represent a state of equilibrium, and deviations from this point indicate changes in market conditions. In computer graphics and video games, the origin serves as the reference point for positioning objects and characters within the virtual world. Knowing the origin helps in understanding coordinate systems and spatial relationships in many fields.
The point of intersection of the x-axis and y-axis is known as the origin, which has the coordinates (0, 0). Thus, the correct answer is A. The origin.
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