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Mathematics vocabulary · Functions and Graphs

Axis

Meaning in mathematics, with examples

/ˈæksɪs/nounCore term

In mathematics, axis means: One of the reference lines on a graph, usually the horizontal x-axis and the vertical y-axis, used to locate points by their coordinates.

In Turkish: eksen

How it is used

You draw, label and scale the axes. A graph 'crosses' or 'cuts' the x-axis at its x-intercepts. Other common uses are the 'axis of symmetry' of a parabola and the 'axis of rotation' in geometry.

Example sentences

  1. Label each axis with the variable and its unit.

  2. The parabola crosses the x-axis at −2 and 2.

Common collocations

  • x-axis
  • y-axis
  • label the axes
  • axis of symmetry
  • cross the axis
  • graphA drawing that shows the relationship between quantities, especially all the points (x, y) of a function shown on a pair of axes.
  • interceptA point where a graph crosses one of the axes; the y-intercept of y = 2x + 3 is 3, because the line crosses the y-axis at (0, 3).
  • slopeA number that measures how steep a line is: the change in y divided by the change in x between any two points on the line.
  • functionA rule that takes each input from a set and gives exactly one output, for example f(x) = 2x + 1, which doubles a number and adds one.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Functions and Graphs

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