Coordinate Plane

Cartesian-coordinate

A cartesian plane divides the plane space into two dimensions and is useful to easily locate the points. It is also referred to as the coordinate plane. The two axes of the coordinate plane are the horizontal x-axis and the vertical y-axis. These coordinate axes divide the plane into four quadrants, and the point of intersection of these axes is the origin $(0,0)$. Any point in the coordinate plane is referred to by a point $(x,y)$, where the $x$ value is the position of the point with reference to the $x$-axis, and the $y$ value is the position of the point with reference to the $y$-axis.

The properties of the point represented in the four quadrants of the coordinate plane are:

• The origin $O$ is the point of intersection of the $x$-axis and the $y$-axis and has the coordinates $(0,0)$.
• The $x$-axis to the right of the origin $O$ is the positive $x$-axis and to the left of the origin $O$ is the negative $x$-axis. Also, the $x$-axis above the origin $O$ is the positive $y$-axis, and below the origin $O$ is the negative $y$-axis.

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• The point represented in the first quadrant $(x,y)$ has both positive values and is plotted with reference to the positive $x$-axis and the positive $y$-axis.

• The point represented in the second quadrant is $(-x,y)$is plotted with reference to the negative $x$-axis and positive $y$-axis.
• The point represented in the third quadrant $(-x,-y)$ is plotted with reference to the negative $x$-axis and negative $y$-axis.
• The point represented in the fourth quadrant $(x,-y)$s plotted with reference to the positive $x$-axis and negative $y$-axis.