What is a quadrant?

Answer 1

Quadrants refers to a a division of the Cartesian, usually, rectangular Cartesian, coordinate system. (They are called Cartesian because the idea was developed by the mathematician and philosopher Rene Descartes who was also known as Cartesius.)

The X and Y axes divide the plane into 4 parts and call each part a quadrant. There are quadrants I,II,III,IV.

To figure out what quadrant the point on your graph is use this model. (9,8) - the 9 is the x-axis or how many across horizontal and the 8 is the y-axis or how many up. To pick the point go across 9 and up 8.

The signs of the two numbers in an ordered pair tells you which quadrant the pair is in.

I=(+,+) #'s

II= (-,+) #'s

III= (-,-) #'s

IV= (+,-) #'s

(An easy way to remember this is that the quadrants are numbered counter-clockwise beginning with the upper right.)

So in other words (8,-5) would be in Quad. IV and (9,0) would be in Quad. I

Quadrant can mean many things, this is the algebraic meaning. It can also be a quarter of a circle or an instrument used in navigation. Basically it means quarter, or one fourth.