Example

Plotting Points and Identifying Quadrants

To plot a point, such as (5,4)(-5, 4), use its ordered pair (x,y)(x, y). First, locate the xx-coordinate (5-5) on the horizontal xx-axis and sketch a vertical line. Then, locate the yy-coordinate (44) on the vertical yy-axis and sketch a horizontal line. The point lies at their intersection. Because the xx-coordinate is negative and the yy-coordinate is positive, the point (5,4)(-5, 4) is located in Quadrant II. Similarly, (3,52)(3, \frac{5}{2}) lies in Quadrant I (both coordinates are positive), (3,4)(-3, -4) lies in Quadrant III (both coordinates are negative), and (2,3)(2, -3) lies in Quadrant IV (positive xx-coordinate, negative yy-coordinate). Points with a zero coordinate, such as (0,1)(0, -1), lie directly on an axis—in this case, the yy-axis.

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Updated 2026-05-03

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