Step by step
The question
Question: which quadrants are A (−5, −1) and B (4, 2) in?
A (−5, −1) B (4, 2)
1 Read the signs
The first number is x.
The second is y.
We only need their signs.
x first, y second
A is (−5, −1): x is negative, y is negative.
A: −, −
B is (4, 2): x is positive, y is positive.
B: +, +
2 Name the quadrants
Draw the grid.
The two axes cut it into four parts.
Each part is called a quadrant.
3 Find the quadrants
A: left and down: (−, −).
That is quadrant Ⅲ.
= A (−, −) → quadrant III
B: right and up: (+, +).
That is quadrant Ⅰ.
= B (+, +) → quadrant I
So: A in quadrant Ⅲ and B in quadrant Ⅰ.
= A: III, B: I
4 Check
Let's check: plot them.
A: left 5, down 1.
It is in quadrant Ⅲ.
B: right 4, up 2.
It is in quadrant Ⅰ.
Every dot is where we said.
So the answer is right!
Let's look back.
First: read the signs.
Then: name the quadrants.
Then: find the quadrants.
Last: check.
Answer
= A: III, B: I