Plot the points (x, y) given in the following table on the plane, choosing suitable units of distance on the axes. x: -2, -1, 0, 1, 3; y: 8, 7, -1.25, 3, -1

To plot the points, we need to create a Cartesian coordinate system with x-axis and y-axis. The x-values range from -2 to 3, and the y-values range from -1.25 to 8. We can choose a suitable scale for both axes. For example, we could use 1 unit = 1 cm on both axes. This allows us to plot all the points comfortably within the graph.

1. Draw the axes: Draw a horizontal line (x-axis) and a vertical line (y-axis) intersecting at the origin (0, 0).
2. Label the axes: Label the x-axis and y-axis, indicating the positive and negative directions.
3. Choose a scale: As mentioned, 1 unit = 1 cm (or any appropriate scale that fits the given data) works well.
4. Plot the points: Plot each point (x, y) by locating the x-coordinate on the x-axis and the y-coordinate on the y-axis. For instance, the point (-2, 8) would be located 2 units to the left of the origin on the x-axis and 8 units up on the y-axis. Similarly, plot the other points (-1, 7), (0, -1.25), (1, 3), and (3, -1).
5. Mark the points: Mark each point clearly and label it with its coordinates (optional but helpful).

The resulting plot should show five points scattered across the Cartesian plane according to their x and y coordinates. The exact appearance will depend on the chosen scale, but all five points should be clearly visible and correctly positioned relative to each other and the origin.