What is the x-coordinate of the point (2, -8)?

The x-coordinate of the point (2, -8) is 2.

In a coordinate system, any point is represented by a pair of numbers written in parentheses, like (x, y). The first number in this pair is the x-coordinate, and the second number is the y-coordinate. The x-coordinate tells you how far to move horizontally from the origin (0, 0), while the y-coordinate tells you how far to move vertically.

For the point (2, -8), the x-coordinate is 2. This means you move 2 units to the right from the origin. The y-coordinate is -8, which means you move 8 units down from the origin. Together, these coordinates give you the exact location of the point on the Cartesian plane.

Understanding coordinates is fundamental in GCSE Maths, as it helps you plot points, draw graphs, and solve geometric problems. The x-coordinate is always the first number in the pair, making it easy to identify. So, whenever you see a point like (2, -8), you can quickly determine that the x-coordinate is 2.