Quadrants
Learn about the concept of quadrants in geometry here. Understand the concept better with the pictorial representation of quadrants of a graph. For more help one can connect to an online tutor and gain the required help.
Quadrants is one of the important concepts in graph. There are 4 equal quadrants of a graph plane. Based on the angles and then x and y point values they are split into four equal quadrant parts.
The four quadrants formed by the ordinate axes are numbered as shown in the figure.
The table below shows the sign of the coordinates of the point in different quadrants:
| Quadrants Coordinates | I | II | III | IV |
| Abscissa(x) | + | - | - | + |
| Ordinate(y) | + | + | - | - |
The following table shows the position of some points in the quadrants:
| Point | Co-ordinates | x | y | Quadrants |
| A | (3,5) | 3 | 5 | I |
| B | (-3,5) | -3 | 5 | II |
| C | (-3,-5) | -3 | -5 | III |
| D | (3,-5) | 3 | -5 | IV |
|
O Origin |
(0,0) | 0 | 0 | ..... |
The graph is divided into 4 quadrants. Each of these quadrants are typically named from 1 to 4 as shown in the below diagram. The easiest way to remember that 1st quadrant is always located at the top right of the graph, second quadrant goes to top left, third quadrant goes to bottom left and finally the fourth quadrant goes at the bottom right. Therefore, it follows an anti-clockwise direction always.
First Quadrant: As shown in the above diagram, the first quadrant lies in-between 0 to 90 degree angle, which is the top right of the diagram. In 1st quadrant all the x-coordinates and y-coordinates are positive (+). For a better understanding, you may notice the 1st quadrant marked blue in the above diagram.
Second Quadrant: Second quadrant lies between 90 to 180 degree angle, which is the top left of the graph. In second quadrant all the x-coordinates are negative and y-coordinates are positive. The 2nd quadrant is marked red in the above diagram.
Third Quadrant: Third quadrant lies between 180 to 270 degree angle, which is the bottom left of the graph. In third quadrant all x-coordinates and y-coordinates are negative. For a better understanding, you may notice the 3rd quadrant marked green in the above diagram.
Fourth Quadrant: Fourth quadrant lies between 270 to 360 degree angle, which is the bottom right of the graph. In fourth quadrant all the x-coordinates are positive and y-coordinates are negative. The 4th quadrant is marked yellow in the above diagram.
Help to plot the following angles in the graph plane and identify their quadrants: 95 degree; 340 degree.
Solution: Pictorial Representation:
- 95 degree: 95 degree is the second quadrant angle because it lies between 90 degree to 180 degree.
- 340 degree: 340 degree is the fourth quadrant angle because it is lies between 270 degree to 360 degree.
