Coordinates in four quadrants
Objective. Read and plot ordered pairs across all four quadrants.
- 1. Learn
- 2. Worked example
- 3. Practice
- 4. Feedback
- 5. Continue
Learn: the key idea
Coordinates describe a point's position using an ordered pair (x,y), where x measures horizontal distance and y measures vertical distance from the origin. In four-quadrant coordinates, both positive and negative values are used, dividing the grid into four regions: positive x and y in the first quadrant, negative x and positive y in the second, both negative in the third, and positive x with negative y in the fourth. For example, the point (−3,4) lies in the second quadrant, three units left and four units up from the origin. Reading coordinates always follows the order x first, then y.
Worked example
State which quadrant the coordinate point (−6, −2) lies in.
- First quadrant
- Second quadrant
- Third quadrant
- Fourth quadrant
- 1Identify the sign of the x-coordinate: −6 is negative.
- 2Identify the sign of the y-coordinate: −2 is negative.
- 3Recall that both coordinates negative places the point in the third quadrant.
- 4Confirm by comparing to the quadrant pattern of signs.
Answer: Third quadrant
Concept mastery
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Practice
Practice happens on its own screen, one question at a time. Answers stay hidden until you submit yours, and you can stop and pick up at the same question later.
Start practisingCommon mistake. Pupils sometimes swap the order of coordinates, plotting (2,−5) as if it were (−5,2). Always read and plot the x-coordinate first, moving horizontally before moving vertically for y.
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