Using coordinates to plot and identify vertices of shapes, finding missing vertices, and working with reflections on coordinate grids.
Where your child meets this in real life: Computer graphics, design software, or plotting building layouts
SEAGReady breaks coordinates and shapes into 3 steps, taught in order so each skill builds on the last.
Plot coordinates to form shapes and read coordinates of vertices from given shapes on a grid
Use properties of shapes to find the coordinates of a missing vertex
Reflect shapes across horizontal or vertical mirror lines and state the new coordinates
Three free sample questions from our coordinates and shapes course. Every question comes with a full explanation, and hints that guide without giving the answer away.
Conor plots the points A(2, 1), B(5, 1), C(5, 4), D(2, 4) on a coordinate grid and joins them in order. What shape does he make?
Answer: A. Rectangle
Conor plotted 4 points: A(2, 1), B(5, 1), C(5, 4), D(2, 4). Joining them creates a shape with 4 sides. The sides are horizontal and vertical, meeting at right angles. This is a rectangle.
Stuck? Start here: How many points did Conor plot? Count them: A, B, C, D
A rectangle has three vertices at (1, 2), (5, 2), and (5, 6). What are the coordinates of the fourth vertex?
Answer: A. (1, 6)
For a rectangle, opposite sides must be parallel. The fourth vertex must: - Have x = 1 (same as vertex (1, 2)) to form a vertical left side - Have y = 6 (same as vertex (5, 6)) to form a horizontal top side The fourth vertex is (1, 6).
Stuck? Start here: Rectangles have opposite sides that are parallel. The fourth vertex completes two sides
A point is at (2, 3). It is reflected across the vertical mirror line x = 5. What are the coordinates of the reflected point?
Answer: A. (8, 3)
The mirror line is x = 5 (vertical). Original point (2, 3) is 3 units to the left of the line: 5 - 2 = 3 units Reflected point is 3 units to the right of the line: x = 5 + 3 = 8 The y-value stays the same: y = 3 Reflected point: (8, 3)
Stuck? Start here: For a vertical mirror line (x = ...), only the x-value changes
This is the exact interactive worked example your child sees in SEAGReady. Step through it and watch the method build up.
Aoife is designing a garden layout on graph paper for her school project.
Plot the points A(1, 2), B(4, 2), C(4, 5), D(1, 5) and join them. What shape is formed?
A(1, 2), B(4, 2), C(4, 5), D(1, 5)
Step 1 of 4
Aoife is designing a garden layout on graph paper for her school project.
Plot the points A(1, 2), B(4, 2), C(4, 5), D(1, 5) and join them. What shape is formed?
The four vertices form a rectangle with width 3 units and height 3 units.
The key insight: Vertices are just coordinate points - join them in order to reveal the shape!
Watch out: Plotting (1, 2) as 2 across and 1 up. Remember: the x-value (first number) tells you how far across, y-value (second) tells you how far up.
These are the misconceptions we see most often in coordinates and shapes, including the ones our practice questions are specifically designed to catch.
Struggling with coordinates and shapes? The real gap is often in one of these earlier topics.
SEAGReady finds the exact step where your child gets stuck, teaches it with worked examples like the one above, and brings it back for review so it sticks.