In an ( x, y) ordered pair, the first number tells us the x-coordinate of the point and the second number tells us the y-coordinate of the point. To graph ( 1.5, -3.5), we first find 1.5 on the x-axis and make a mental note of this grid line. The x-coordinate 1.5 tells us to move 1.5 units to the right of the origin — the positive horizontal direction.
Next, we find -3.5 on the y-axis and follow this grid line until it collides with the grid line from our x-coordinate. The y-coordinate -3.5 tells us to move 3.5 units down from the origin — the negative vertical direction.
The point ( 1.5, -3.5) lies on the point at which these two grid lines intersect. Now we want to describe the location of Point L. Recall what we know about the quadrants of a coordinate plane. The coordinate plane is divided into four quadrants by the x- and y-axes.
Point L has a positive x-coordinate and a negative y-coordinate. The quadrant where the x-coordinate is positive and the y-coordinate is negative is the fourth quadrant, or Quadrant IV. Therefore, the point is located in Quadrant IV.
