Question

Write the abscissa and ordinate of the following point $\left( 4,-8 \right)$.
   a). Abscissa:4 ordinate:-8
  b). Abscissa:3 ordinate:-8
  c). Abscissa:2 ordinate:-8
  d). None of these.

Answer 1

Hint: We will discuss the definition of abscissa and ordinates in the solution of this question. We will state $\left( 4,-8 \right)$ as abscissa and ordinate. Basically, distance from the y-axis is known as abscissa and distance from x-axis is the ordinate.

Complete step-by-step solution -
It is given in the question that we have to state the abscissa and ordinate of the point $\left( 4,-8 \right)$. For this first we will discuss the definition of abscissa and ordinates and their differences. So, basically, abscissa is the distance from a point to the vertical or y-axis, measured parallel to the horizontal or x-axis. Or we can say that the x-axis is called abscissa.
Similarly, a straight line from a point drawn parallel to one coordinate axis and meet the other, especially a coordinate measured parallel to the vertical is called ordinates or we can say that y-axis is called ordinates. In the generic coordinate system, the x-axis is called abscissa and the y-axis is called ordinate. In other words, all the points on the x-axis are abscissa and all the points on the y-axis are ordinates. Like in point $\left( -3,-4 \right)$ we say abscissa to be -3 and ordinate to be -4.
In our question, given point is $\left( 4,-8 \right)$, we first plot the point this point $\left( 4,-8 \right)$, on the rectangular coordinate system as shown below,

From the above plot, we can say that the given point $\left( 4,-8 \right)$ has 4 on the x-axis and -8 on the y-axis, therefore 4 is known as the abscissa and -8 is known as ordinate. Thus, option a) is the correct answer for the given question.

Note: Generally, students confuse abscissa and ordinates and they miss-understand abscissa as y-axis and ordinates as x-axis but it is not true. The abscissa is x-axis and ordinates is y-axis. Thus it is recommended to memorize the definition of abscissa and ordinates individually. There is a trick which can be used to memorize it. We know that abscissa starts with A and ordinate starts with O, and A comes before O, similar to X comes before Y, thus A matches X and O matches Y. And hence abscissa = x-axis and Ordinate = y-axis.