How many steps to the left of the origin is the point located? How many steps above it?
Coordinates: (-2,1) Quadrant: II
Practice makes perfect
To find the x-coordinate of S, 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 it is above the origin.
From the diagram, we see that S is located 2 units to the left of the origin and 1 unit above it. Then, its coordinates are x= -2 and y= 1, which we can write as ( -2, 1). 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 point is negative and the y-coordinate is positive, S(-2,1) lies in Quadrant II.
