Why is the fourth quadrant positive,negative?

1 Answer
Alan P.
Aug 8, 2015

In the fourth quadrant the value of #x# is always positive and the value of #y# is always negative;
so coordinates #(x,y)# in quadrant 4 are always #("positive", "negative")#

Explanation:

Using standard notation:
enter image source here

All points to the right of the Y-axis have values for #x# which are positive.

All points below the X-axis have values of #y# which are negative.

Quadrant 4 is the area to the right of the Y-axis and below the X-axis.

Therefore all points in quadrant 4 have values of #x# which are positive and values of #y# that are negative.

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