Draw Polygons in the Coordinate Plane

Students use coordinates to draw polygons in the coordinate plane and solve problems about the polygons, including finding side lengths using absolute value, computing perimeter, and identifying the type of polygon based on its coordinates.

Try three of them

Real questions from this skill, graded here. No account, and nothing is saved.

Grade 6 · Geometry: Area and Surface Area · question 1 of 3

0 of 20

20 rungs. A star at the top.

Rectangle ABCD: A(1, 1), B(6, 1), C(6, 4), D(1, 4). How long is side AB?

Your answer:

How it is taught

0:00 of 4:33

Plot each vertex, then connect them in order.

Close the shape back at the first point.

Read it: Polygons on the coordinate plane

Rectangle ABCD has the vertices A(1, 2), B(7, 2), C(7, 5) and D(1, 5). A and B share their second number, so side AB runs across: 7 − 1 = 6. B and C share their first number, so side BC runs up: 5 − 2 = 3. The area is 6 × 3 = 18.

Plot the vertices and join them in order.
For a side along a gridline, find the numbers that change and take the smaller from the larger.
Use the side lengths for the perimeter or the area.

Points that share a number sit on one gridline, so the distance between them is the difference of their other numbers.

Counting the squares along the side gives the same number.

Across the y-axis, count to the axis and past it: from −2 to 4 is 2 + 4 = 6.

A side along a gridline is the larger coordinate minus the smaller. A rectangle's area is its two sides multiplied.

Adding the coordinates: 7 + 1 = 8 for side AB.

Side AB runs from 1 to 7, so it is 7 − 1 = 6.

A rectangle has vertices (1, 2), (5, 2), (5, 5) and (1, 5). Its area is ___ square units. — 12. Across 5 − 1 = 4, up 5 − 2 = 3: 4 × 3 = 12.

Rectangle A(−2, 3), B(4, 3), C(4, −1), D(−2, −1)

Today we'll plot a polygon on the coordinate grid and find its perimeter.

Here's our coordinate grid — x runs sideways, y runs up and down.

Plot point A at negative two, three. Two steps left, then three steps up.

Plot point B at four, three. Four steps right, three steps up.

Plot point C at four, negative one. Same x as B, but one below the axis.

And point D at negative two, negative one.

Connect the points in order, A to B to C to D. We get a rectangle!

Side AB is horizontal, so we use the x-coordinates: the absolute value of four minus negative two is six.

Side BC is vertical, so we use the y-coordinates: the absolute value of three minus negative one is four.

Grade 6 · Plot a rectangle and find its perimeter

Perimeter is two times six plus two times four.

The perimeter of rectangle ABCD is twenty units. Nice work!

What you see

While they climb, your page writes one true line to ask about tonight, and a short note each Sunday.

MayaGrade 3 · Mathematics

Did you know?

A chessboard has 64 squares — share them out between the 8 rows and each row holds exactly 8.

Today’s goal: 1 star — one skill mastered, every rung of its ladder climbed
Climbing now: Divide within 100

An example student.

MayaGrade 3 · Mathematics

Maya earned 2 stars this week — Interpret multiplication as equal groups, which took 6 answers over 3 days before its star landed 3 days ago and Multiply by 6, 7, 8 and 9. Next up: Divide within 100.

An example week.

More of the library

Every skill has a page

Practise this skill free

14 days of every skill, practice packets, Fluency sheets and up to four students. No card.

Start free