How many steps to the left of the origin is the point located? How many steps below it?
Coordinates: (-4,-5) Quadrant: III
Practice makes perfect
To find the x-coordinate of J, 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 below the origin.
From the diagram, we see that J is located 4 units to the left of the origin and 5 unit below it. Then, its coordinates are x= -4 and y= -5, which we can write as ( -4, -5). 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 point are negative, J(-4,-5) lies in Quadrant III.
