What is indicated by the y-coordinate in an ordered pair?

The correct answer is indeed that the y-coordinate in an ordered pair indicates the position above or below the x-axis. In a Cartesian coordinate system, the ordered pair is represented as (x, y), where x represents the horizontal position and y represents the vertical position of a point on a plane. The value of the y-coordinate tells us how far above or below the x-axis the point is located. A positive y-coordinate indicates that the point is above the x-axis, while a negative y-coordinate indicates that it is below.

Understanding how coordinates function in a two-dimensional plane is crucial for interpreting graphs and solving problems involving distance, area, and other mathematical concepts. Thus, the y-coordinate specifically communicates vertical positioning, making it an essential part of graphing and analysis in mathematics.