How many steps to the left of the origin is the point located? How many steps above it?
Coordinates: (-4,2) Quadrant: II
Practice makes perfect
To find the x-coordinate of B, we count the number of units that the point is placed to the left of the origin. Similarly, to find the y-coordinate, we count the number of units that the point is located above the origin.
From the diagram, we see that B is located 4 units to the left of the origin and 2 units above it. Then, its coordinates are x= -4 and y= 2, which we can write as ( -4, 2). To determine the quadrant in which a point lies without graphing, observe the signs of the x- and y-coordinates.
Quadrant
x-coordinate
y-coordinate
Quadrant I
Positive
Positive
Quadrant II
Negative
Positive
Quadrant III
Negative
Negative
Quadrant IV
Positive
Negative
Since the x-coordinate of the given point is negative and the y-coordinate is positive, B(-4,2) lies in Quadrant II.
