QA CG

+ve
I

I
+ve
X-axis

-ve
II

IV
-ve Y-axis

Let P be any point on the plane, then we draw a perpendicular from P on the X-axis and
another on the Y- axis. Then the distance MP (which is parallel to the X-axis) is called the xcoordinate or abscissa of point P. Similarly, the length PN (which is parallel to the Y-axis) is
called the y-coordinate or ordinate of point P.
Then the position of the point P in the plane with respect to the coordinate axes is
represented by the ordered pair ( x, y). The ordered pair (x, y) is called the coordinates of
point P.
CARTESIAN COORDINATE SYSTEM
Rectangular Co-ordinate Axes
Let X OX and Y OY be the two mutually perpendicular lines through any point O in the
plane of paper. The point O is called the origin.
The line XOX is called the x-axis and the line YOY is called the y-axis. These two lines taken
together are called the coordinate axes.
Cartesian Co-ordinate of a Point
Each axes is calibrated as a scale into several points which are equidistant from each other.
The point O is assumed to be zero.
Quadrants
In the adjacent figure the two axes intersect each other perpendicular at point O.
The regions XOY, X OY, X OY and Y OX are known as first, second, third and fourth
quadrant respectively.
The nature of values of x and y in different quadrants is different which is shown in figure
also given below.
Quadrant
I

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Sign of (x, y)
(+, +)

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QA CG

II

(-, +)

III

(-, -)

IV

(+, -)

For example, let P be a point in second quadrant, then it is denoted as (-1, 2), (-2, 3), (-3, 5),
(-6, 8), (-7, 10) etc.
The coordinates of point O (i. e. origin) are taken as (0,0). The coordinates of any point on xaxis are of the form ( x,0) and the coordinates of any point on y-axis are of the form (0,y).

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