What are Quadrants?
The two axes divide the Cartesian plane into four regions called quadrants. They are numbered counterclockwise starting from the top-right quadrant.
Quadrant Signs:
| Quadrant | x-coordinate | y-coordinate | Example Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Quadrant II (QII)** | Negative (-) | Positive (+) | (-4, 2) |
| **Quadrant III (QIII)** | Negative (-) | Negative (-) | (-5, -3) |
| **Quadrant IV (QIV)** | Positive (+) | Negative (-) | (6, -2) |
Points on Axes:
- Points on x-axis have y = 0 (example: (2, 0), (-5, 0))
- Points on y-axis have x = 0 (example: (0, 3), (0, -4))
- The origin (0, 0) belongs to both axes, not to any quadrant
Quick Memory Trick:
- QI: (+, +) → "Both Positive"
- QII: (-, +) → "Negative x, Positive y" → Think: "West, then North"
- QIII: (-, -) → "Both Negative" → Think: "Southwest"
- QIV: (+, -) → "Positive x, Negative y" → Think: "Southeast"