Question

Name the axis on which the following point lies (– 2, 0).
(a) x-axis
(b) y-axis
(c) Origin
(d) None of these

Answer 1

Hint:First of all, draw a coordinate plane having x and y-axis and try to understand how to locate various points on it. Now, we know that on the x axis, y – coordinate is 0, so accordingly locate the given points and mark the correct option.

Complete step-by-step answer:
In this question, we have to tell the axis on which the point (– 2, 0) lie. Before proceeding with the question, let us first understand how to locate the points on the Cartesian plane having x and y-axis. We use the Cartesian plane to describe the position of a point or the object on the surface by using the two intersecting lines and locating the point on it.
Cartesian Plane: The Cartesian Plane consists of two directed and perpendicular lines whose intersection point is the zero point for both the lines. The horizontal line is known as the x-axis and the vertical line is known as the y-axis. The coordinate point (x, y) on the Cartesian plane says that the horizontal distance of the point from the origin is x and the vertical distance is y.
Also, the Cartesian plane has 4 quadrants separated by x and y-axis. So, if the sign of x is positive, the point is on the right of the origin, else it is on the left. Similarly, if the sign is positive for y, the point is y points above the origin else it is y points below it.
Quadrants are denoted as I, II, III, and IV in an anticlockwise direction. The axes in the plane are called Cartesian axes and the plane is known as the Cartesian plane.

In the above figure, note that,
OX = Positive x – axis. Here, x > 0, y = 0
OX’ = Negative x – axis. Here, x < 0, y = 0
OY = Positive y – axis. Here, x = 0, y > 0
OY’ = Negative y – axis. Here, x = 0, y < 0
Also, in quadrant 1, x > 0, y > 0 or (+, +)
In Quadrant 2, x < 0, y > 0 or (-, +)
In Quadrant 3, x < 0, y < 0 or (-, -)
In Quadrant 4, x > 0, y < 0 or (+, -)
Now, let us consider the point given in the question. We are given a point (– 2, 0). We know that in the given point, y = 0 and we have already seen that y = 0 in the x-axis. So our given point (-2,0) is on the negative x-axis i.e left side of x-axis, let us locate the point on the plane, we get,

Hence, option (a) is the right answer.

Note: In these types of questions, students can directly get to the answer without actually plotting the given point on the Cartesian plane and by just examining the sign of x and y coordinates of the given point. Also, students must remember that whenever y coordinate of the point is 0, that point is on x-axis whereas when x coordinate is 0, that point is on the y axis and when both are zero, that point is the origin.