Geometry Basics

Coordinate Plane Plotting

Identify the quadrant of a point (-3, 2): x < 0 and y > 0 places it in Quadrant II.

coordinate-plane-plot The coordinate plane has four quadrants: - Quadrant I: x > 0, y > 0. - Quadrant II: x < 0, y > 0. - Quadrant III: x < 0, y < 0. - Quadrant IV: x > 0, y < 0. Determine the quadrant from the signs of x and y.

Example

Classify a point by the signs of its coordinates. A point on an axis, where one coordinate is zero, lies in no quadrant.

highlighted = computed this step

Step 1 — Point

Set up the given values.

(−3,2)( -3 , 2 )
Plot the point (-3, 2)-4-4-3-3-2-2-1-111223344xy(-3, 2)Start at 0, move to x, then move to y.

Step 2 — Check x sign

x is negative because -3 < 0.

x=-3<0x= \hl{-3} < 0
x = -3: move left 3-4-4-3-3-2-2-1-111223344xy(-3, 2)Start at 0, move to x, then move to y.

Step 3 — Check y sign

y is positive because 2 > 0.

y=2>0y= \hl{2} > 0
y = 2: move up 2-4-4-3-3-2-2-1-111223344xy(-3, 2)Start at 0, move to x, then move to y.

Step 4 — Quadrant

Negative x and positive y mean Quadrant II.

Quadrant II\hl{Quadrant II}
Negative x and positive y land in Quadrant II-4-4-3-3-2-2-1-111223344xy(-3, 2)Quadrant IIStart at 0, move to x, then move to y.

Step 5 — Result

Read the final result.

Quadrant II\text{Quadrant II}
(-3, 2) is in Quadrant II-4-4-3-3-2-2-1-111223344xy(-3, 2)Quadrant IIStart at 0, move to x, then move to y.