Quadrants and Coordinate Signs
Quadrants and coordinate signs is a Grade 6 geometry skill in Big Ideas Math Advanced 1, Chapter 6: Integers and the Coordinate Plane. The coordinate plane is divided into four quadrants by the x and y axes. In Quadrant I both coordinates are positive, Quadrant II has negative x and positive y, Quadrant III has both negative, and Quadrant IV has positive x and negative y.
Key Concepts
The coordinate plane is divided into four quadrants labeled with Roman numerals: Quadrant I: $(+,+)$ both coordinates positive Quadrant II: $( ,+)$ x negative, y positive Quadrant III: $( , )$ both coordinates negative Quadrant IV: $(+, )$ x positive, y negative.
Common Questions
What are the four quadrants of a coordinate plane?
Quadrant I: (+, +) — upper right. Quadrant II: (-, +) — upper left. Quadrant III: (-, -) — lower left. Quadrant IV: (+, -) — lower right. Quadrants are numbered counterclockwise starting from the upper right.
How do the signs of coordinates tell you which quadrant a point is in?
Check the signs of the x and y coordinates: both positive = Quadrant I, negative x and positive y = Quadrant II, both negative = Quadrant III, positive x and negative y = Quadrant IV.
Where are points on the axes (not in a quadrant)?
Points on the x-axis (y = 0) or y-axis (x = 0) are not in any quadrant — they are on the boundary. The origin (0, 0) is the intersection of the two axes and belongs to no quadrant.
Where is this skill taught in Big Ideas Math Advanced 1?
Quadrants and coordinate signs are covered in Chapter 6: Integers and the Coordinate Plane of Big Ideas Math Advanced 1, the Grade 6 math textbook.