Ordinate is another term for \(y\)-coordinate.

Every point in the \(xy\)-plane is represented by an ordered pair, \((x,y)\) that tells us its vertical and horizontal position in the plane.

The ordinate gives the vertical position of the point in the plane. It tells us how far up or down the plane the point lies.

The ordinate always comes second in the ordered pair representing the point.

For example, if the ordered pair \((3,2)\) represents the point \(P\) in the \(xy\)-plane, the ordinate of \(P\) is \(2\).