The x-coordinate represents the horizontal shift, starting from the origin, and the y-coordinate represents the vertical shift.
Label: S Quadrant: IV
Practice makes perfect
An ( x, y) ordered pair is plotted in a coordinate plane by finding the x-coordinate on the horizontal axis and the y-coordinate on the vertical axis. Let's take a look at the point we want to graph and label on a coordinate plane.
( 1/2, -1)
To graph this point we should first move 12 units in the positive horizontal direction starting from the origin. Then we should move 1 unit in the negative vertical direction. We move in the negative direction because the y-coordinate is a negative number.
From the diagram, we see that the point ( 12,-1) matches with the label S. 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 positive and the y-coordinate is negative, S( 12,-1) lies in Quadrant IV.
Extra
Visualizing Quadrants
To help us visualize each of the different quadrants, let's take a look at the diagram.
Therefore, we are able to determine in which quadrant a point is located only by looking at the signs of coordinates of this point.
