Plot points in all four quadrants

The coordinate plane represents two perpendicular number lines, with the horizontal coordinate $x$ named first and the vertical coordinate $y$ named second; ordered pairs locate points using positive, negative, and zero values in all four quadrants and on the axes. Accurate plotting and interpretation depend on relating each sign pattern to a quadrant and distinguishing coordinates from their reversed order. This understanding supports graphing relationships and describing geometric transformations, without extending to advanced coordinate equations or distance formulas.

Detailed Explanation: Plot points in all four quadrants

The coordinate plane has two number lines:

The horizontal line is the $x$ -axis.
The vertical line is the $y$ -axis.
Their intersection is the origin, $((0,0))$ .

An ordered pair is written as $((x,y))$ . The first number tells how far to move left or right. The second number tells how far to move up or down.

The signs tell you the quadrant:

Signs of $((x,y))$	Quadrant
$((+,+))$	I
$((-,+))$	II
$((-,-))$	III
$((+,-))$	IV

If a coordinate is $0$ , the point is on an axis instead of in a quadrant.

Worked example: Plot $(A(-3,2))$

Start at the origin, $((0,0))$ .
Look at the $x$ -coordinate, $(-3)$ . Move 3 units left.
Look at the $y$ -coordinate, $2$ . From there, move 2 units up.
Mark the point and label it $A$ .

Because the $x$ -coordinate is negative and the $y$ -coordinate is positive, $(A(-3,2))$ is in Quadrant II.

Remember to use the coordinates in order. The point $((-3,2))$ is not the same as $((2,-3))$ : reversing the numbers changes the point’s location.

Learn by doing: Plot points in all four quadrants

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Cartesian Grid - X and Y values of Points - Reversed

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