Plot the point (3, -2, 1)

Step by step

The question

Question: plot the point (3, −2, 1).

The numbers always come in this order: x, then y, then z.

So x = 3, y = −2 and z = 1.

1 Set up the grid

Three axes, at square corners to each other.

x comes toward us, y goes right, z goes up.

The floor is flat, where z is 0.

z is the height above it.

2 Plot the point

Start at the origin, where the axes meet.

Go 3 along x.

Then go back 2 along y: a minus means the other way.

Then go up 1, straight up, along z.

That is the point (3, −2, 1).

Careful!

The order matters.

The first number is always x.

(−2, 3, 1) is a different point.

3 Check

Let's check.

Drop straight down to the floor.

On the floor we are at x = 3, y = −2.

The height is 1.

It matches!

Let's look back.

First: set up the grid.

Then: plot the point.

Last: check.