6th Grade Plotting Points in Four Quadrants Worksheets
Fresh practice, ready to print. Answer key included.
Reading and plotting ordered pairs with negative coordinates in all four quadrants, and finding the distance between two points that share an x- or y-coordinate.
Make it yours
Or start with a ready-made version.
What's on the worksheet
- Read the points
One point in each quadrant, such as (−4, 3) and (2, −5).
- Plot the points
Ordered pairs with negative coordinates to plot and label.
- Distance between points
Points in a vertical or horizontal line, often on opposite sides of an axis.
How it works: a quick refresher
The rules this worksheet practices, then one problem worked from start to finish.
| Strategy | How it works |
|---|---|
| Signs give the direction | A negative x means left of the y-axis. A negative y means below the x-axis. |
| The four quadrants | Quadrant I is (+, +), II is (−, +), III is (−, −) and IV is (+, −), counting counterclockwise. |
| Same x, vertical distance | From (2, 5) to (2, −3) is 5 + 3 = 8 units: |5| + |−3|. |
| Same side of the axis | From (2, 5) to (2, 1) is 5 − 1 = 4 units. |
Worked example
Find the distance from A(−3, 4) to B(−3, −2).
- 1The x-coordinates match, so the points are on a vertical line.
- 2A is 4 units above the x-axis and B is 2 units below it.
- 3They are on opposite sides, so add: 4 + 2 = 6 units.
Ready-made versions
Three fixed versions you can link to or share. Each is a PDF with its own answer key.
- 6th Grade Plotting Points in Four Quadrants Worksheets, version 1Worksheet PDFAnswer key PDF
- 6th Grade Plotting Points in Four Quadrants Worksheets, version 2Worksheet PDFAnswer key PDF
- 6th Grade Plotting Points in Four Quadrants Worksheets, version 3Worksheet PDFAnswer key PDF
Grade level and standard
Written for 6th grade math (number system) and aligned to CCSS 6.NS.C.8. It also works as review in later grades.
Common questions
- Is there an answer key?
- Yes. Every worksheet has a matching answer key with each answer worked on the same grid or layout as the question. The worksheet code printed at the bottom of each page pairs a sheet with its key.
- Why is the distance never negative?
- Distance is a length, like the number of grid squares between the points. That is why it uses absolute value: |−2| is 2.
- My child plots (−3, 4) at (4, −3). How can we fix that?
- Say it aloud each time: x first, across; y second, up or down. Pointing across with one finger before moving up or down with the other helps.
- How many different versions are there?
- About a million per skill. Each time you press the button the problems are generated fresh, so you can print a different version for every student, a retake, or another night of practice.
- Are the worksheets free?
- Yes. They are free to print and copy for your home or classroom, with no sign-up.
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