Coordinates in Four Quadrants

In a Nutshell

Every point on a grid has an address written as (x, y) — go along the corridor first, then up or down the stairs.

A coordinate grid has a horizontal x-axis and a vertical y-axis that cross at the origin (0,0)(0, 0).

When we extend the axes into negative numbers, the grid splits into four quadrants:

  • Quadrant 1 (top right): x>0,;y>0x > 0,; y > 0
  • Quadrant 2 (top left): x<0,;y>0x < 0,; y > 0
  • Quadrant 3 (bottom left): x<0,;y<0x < 0,; y < 0
  • Quadrant 4 (bottom right): x>0,;y<0x > 0,; y < 0

A coordinate is always written as (x,y)(x, y): the x-coordinate first (how far left or right), then the y-coordinate (how far up or down).

Coordinate grid with four quadrants A coordinate grid from -6 to 6 on both axes, with plotted points at (2, 3), (-3, 1), (4, -2), (-1, -4). -6 -6 -5 -5 -4 -4 -3 -3 -2 -2 -1 -1 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 0 x y (2, 3) (-3, 1) (4, -2) (-1, -4)

Plot your own points by entering x and y values. Try placing a point in each quadrant.

Watch it work

Question: Write down the coordinates of a point that is 3 units to the left of the origin and 2 units above it.

Have a go

Q1. Which quadrant contains the point (5,−3)(5, -3)?

Q2. What are the coordinates of the origin?

Q3. Plot the points A(2,4)A(2, 4), B(2,−1)B(2, -1), C(−3,−1)C(-3, -1), D(−3,4)D(-3, 4). What shape do they form?

Q4. A point is at (−4,−2)(-4, -2). It is reflected in the y-axis. What are the new coordinates?