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

The x-coordinate in an ordered pair, typically represented as (x, y), indicates the horizontal position of a point relative to the y-axis in a Cartesian coordinate system. Specifically, it tells us how far to the left or right the point is located from the y-axis. A positive x-coordinate means the point is to the right of the y-axis, while a negative x-coordinate indicates it is to the left.

The other options refer to different concepts: the position above or below the x-axis is determined by the y-coordinate, while the exact location on the y-axis refers to the value of the y-coordinate when x equals zero. Distance from the origin is calculated using the distance formula, which involves both coordinates. Thus, the x-coordinate's primary role focuses solely on indicating the horizontal position in relation to the y-axis.