How many steps to the left of the origin is the point located? How many steps below it?
Coordinates: (-3,-2) Quadrant: III
Practice makes perfect
To find the x-coordinate of T, 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 below the origin.
From the diagram, we see that T is located 3 units to the left of the origin and 2 units below it. Then, its coordinates are x= -3 and y= -2, which we can write as ( -3, -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 both coordinates of the given point are negative, T(-3,-2) lies in Quadrant III.
