When I started playing World of Warcraft, I too saw these cryptic coordinate numbers on the various help sites like this one. Search as I may, I could not find a way to discern my grid position.
There is a macro which will display your position:
/script PlayerX,PlayerY=GetPlayerMapPosition("player")
/script PlayerX=floor(PlayerX*100)
/script PlayerY=floor(PlayerY*100)
/script DEFAULT_CHAT_FRAME:AddMessage(format(TEXT("Current Position: %d, %d"),PlayerX, PlayerY),51,102,0)
You can copy and paste that right into a new WoW macro under your interface menu.
Better than that though are Addons.
I know a lot of experienced players already know about these, but if you were like me and lost (on a lot of things) then this is what you need to hear:
(UI) Addons are not supported by Blizzard, but as long as they do not violate certain standards placed by Blizzard then they permit them. Your account will not be deleted for using some of the VERY handy tools like:
Cartographer (Mapping to include those coordinates and much more)
Questhelper or Carbonite (Gives you an arrow and lists objectives, REALLY helps level fast)
Auctioneer (Does a lot for placing auctions, pricing and more)
Deadly Boss, Atlas Loot, Various trade recipe guides and more
I just listed a few and I am affiliated with none of them. These tools make playing WoW a lot more enjoyable, allowing you to concentrate on the precious and possibly limited time you have actually gaming.
There are a lot of places and databases which carry these addons free of charge. I download mine from Curse.com and manually install them. Letting the client download them and set them up for you is an option, but I prefer doing it manually (less chance of bugs, getting hacked etc.).
Beware addons without descriptions or ones that only a dozen people have downloaded. Likely to be bugs or worse with those, too.
I would have liked to have had this information before I hit level 35, so there it is for all of you who need it.
Larnot
BE/BM Hunter (71 for now, on the race to 80!)
Bronzebeard