Skip to content

Physics Playground

Simulations How we teach Pricing

Language

Log in Start learning free

Loading…

Physics Playground

Built on open, peer-reviewed sources: OpenStax, The Feynman Lectures on Physics, HyperPhysics, NASA and NIST. See our sources.

Learn

Physics course
Math for Physics
Start with the math toolkit
Simulations
Glossary
Exercises
Past exams
Library
How we teach

Company

Pricing
Terms
Privacy
Contact

© 2026 Physics Playground. Made for the curious.Language

Exercises Graphs and straight lines

Example 11.3 from Prealgebra, 11.1 Use the Rectangular Coordinate System

Use the Rectangular Coordinate System: example 11.3

Plot each point in the rectangular coordinate system and identify the quadrant in which the point is located:

ⓐ $(−1, 3)$
ⓑ $(−3, −4)$
ⓒ $(2, −3)$
ⓓ $(3, \frac{5}{2})$

Work it out on paper first. Then open the solution one step at a time, and stop as soon as you can finish on your own.

Solution
The first number of the coordinate pair is the $x -coordinate,$ and the second number is the $y -coordinate .$

ⓐ Since $x = −1, y = 3,$ the point $(−1, 3)$ is in Quadrant II.
ⓑ Since $x = −3, y = −4,$ the point $(−3, −4)$ is in Quadrant III.
ⓒ Since $x = 2, y = −1,$ the point $(2, −1)$ is in Quadrant lV.
ⓓ Since $x = 3, y = \frac{5}{2},$ the point $(3, \frac{5}{2})$ is in Quadrant I. It may be helpful to write $\frac{5}{2}$ as the mixed number, $2 \frac{1}{2},$ or decimal, $2.5 .$ Then we know that the point is halfway between $2$ and $3$ on the $y -axis .$

Your turn

The book's Try It right after this example: same idea, new numbers. Only the answer is given.

Plot each point on a rectangular coordinate system and identify the quadrant in which the point is located:

ⓐ $(−2, 1)$
ⓑ $(−3, −1)$
ⓒ $(4, −4)$
ⓓ $(−4, \frac{3}{2})$

How did it go?

PreviousUse the Rectangular Coordinate System: example 11.2 Next Use the Rectangular Coordinate System: example 11.4

From Prealgebra (1st edition) by OpenStax (Rice University), section 11.1, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Original at openstax.org. We split the solution into steps; the words, numbers and figures are the book's. OpenStax doesn't endorse this site.