Act 1

If you have chalk, go outside and draw the coordinate plane on the sidewalk (make it big enough for you to walk around). If you don't have sidewalk chalk, just draw it on a piece of paper and find a small marker you can use.

Pretend the coordinate plane is a compass!

Label the top arrow N

Label the right arrow E

Label the bottom arrow S

Label the left Arrow W.

You are going to take a few trips. Each time you start a new trip start by standing (or placing your marker) at the origin (0,0).

After completing each trip, answer the following questions:

1. What Quadrant are you in?
2. What are the coordinates where you ended up?
3. What are the signs for the coordinates? Example. If you end up at the coordinates (-2,3) write your answer like this (-.+)

Trip 1:

• Start at the origin
• Go two steps East. Stop
• Go two steps North. Stop
• Go three steps East. Stop
• Answer the Questions!

Trip 2:

• Start at the origin
• Go five steps West. Stop
• Go two steps North. Stop
• Answer the Questions!

Trip 3:

• Start at the origin
• Go two steps East. Stop
• Go two steps South. Stop
• Answer the Questions!

Trip 4:

• Start at the origin
• Go four steps West. Stop
• Go two steps south. Stop
• Answer the Questions!

Trip 5:

• Start at the origin
• Go four steps East. Stop
• Go two steps North. Stop
• Go one step West. Stop
• Go one step North. Stop
• Answer the Questions!

Trip 6:

• Start at the origin
• Go three steps West. Stop
• Go one step North. Stop
• Answer the Questions!

After completing ALL THE TRIPS, answer the following questions.

1. What do you notice about the signs for (x,y) in quadrant I?
2. What do you notice about the signs for (x,y) in quadrant II?
3. Make a hypothesis about the signs for (x,y) in quadrants III and IV?
4. How can you tell what quadrant a point will be in without graphing the actual point?