What do the four quadrants of a coordinate plane represent?

• A. The four regions created by the intersection of the x-axis and y-axis
• B. Four different circles around the origin
• C. Four lines crossing the plane
• D. Four diagonally oriented sections of the plane

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is how a coordinate plane is split by the two lines that cross at the origin—the x-axis and the y-axis. Their intersection divides the plane into four distinct regions, called quadrants. Each quadrant has a different sign pattern for coordinates: top-right has positive x and y, top-left has negative x and positive y, bottom-left has both negative, and bottom-right has positive x with negative y. The axes themselves aren’t part of any quadrant, and the origin is the point where the axes cross. So, the four quadrants are precisely the four regions created by the x-axis and y-axis crossing.