Explain how to plot the point (3, –7) on the coordinate plane.

Coordinates are written in the form (x,y), x being a certain length along the horizontal x axis and y being a certain height along the vertical y axis. Positive y numbers are in the top half of the plane and negative y numbers are on the bottom. Positive x numbers are on the right side of the plane and negative x numbers are on the left. Therefore, (3,-7) would be 3 across to the right from the origin (where the x and y axes intersect) at (3,0) and 7 downwards from that point to (3,-7).