coordinates Positive and negative
Quadrants of a graph
When we extend the x and y axes of a grid
beyond the origin, we create four different
sections. These are called the first, second,
third, and fourth quadrants.
In the third quadrant, point C is behind
the origin on the x axis and below it on
the y axis, so both coordinates are negative
numbers. The coordinates are (−5, −1).
In the fourth quadrant, point D is 6
squares along the x axis and 3 down on
the y axis. So, its coordinates are (6, −3).
In the first quadrant, both coordinates
are made of positive numbers. Point A is
two squares along the x axis and 4 squares
up the y axis, so its coordinates are (2, 4).
In the second quadrant, point B is 2
squares behind the origin (0,0), so the
x coordinate is −2. It's 3 squares up on the
y axis, so point B's coordinates are (−2, 3).
Plotting positive and negative coordinates
Points on a grid can have positive or negative coordinates,
or a mixture of both, depending on which quadrant they are in.
1st quadrant
3rd quadrant 4th quadrant
Positive and
negative coordinates
The x and y axes on a grid can go either side of
zero, just as they do on a number line. On this
kind of grid, a point's position is described with
positive and negative coordinates.
B (−2, 3)
D (6, −3)
C (−5, −1)
−6 −5−4 −3−2 −1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
1
2
3
4
5
6
−1
−2
−3
−4
−5
−6
A (2, 4)
The x coordinate is
positive and the
y coordinate is negative
Both coordinates
are positive
Both coordinates
are negative
The x coordinate is negative and
the y coordinate is positive
Coordinates can be
positive or negative,
depending on the
quadrant they are
located in
−6 −5−4−3−2 −1^0123456
1
2
3
4
5
6
−1
−2
−3
−4
−5
−6
2nd quadrant
x
y
x
y
250_251_Quadrants_pos_neg_coords.indd 250 29/02/2016 18:05