Quadrants

Study Sheet

Quadrants

The four regions of the plane

Reading the Signs

Concept
The Big Idea
xyII

The axes cut the plane into four quadrants, numbered anticlockwise from the top right. The signs of xx and yy tell you which one you are in.

Tip
The pattern

I is (+,+)(+,+), II is (−,+)(-,+), III is (−,−)(-,-), IV is (+,−)(+,-).

In Plain Terms & More Examples

Concept
In plain terms

The signs of xx and yy tell you the quadrant: quadrants are numbered anticlockwise from the top right.

Example
Where is (−4,−1)(-4, -1)?

Both are negative, so it is in quadrant III.

Example
Where is (5,−2)(5, -2)?

xx is positive and yy is negative, so it is in quadrant IV.