Skip to content
NCERT Exemplar · Q2

Q.Name the octant in which each of the following points lies:

(i) (1,2,3)(1,2,3),
(ii) (4,−2,3)(4,-2,3),
(iii) (4,−2,−5)(4,-2,-5),
(iv) (4,2,−5)(4,2,-5),
(v) (−4,2,5)(-4,2,5),
(vi) (−3,−1,6)(-3,-1,6),
(vii) (2,−4,−7)(2,-4,-7),
(viii) (−4,2,−5)(-4,2,-5).
Telangana TsbieShort· 2mImportance★★★★★est
33% · 24/72 Questions
✓ Free question

In 3D coordinate geometry, octants are the eight regions formed by the intersection of the three coordinate planes, defined by the signs of the x,y,zx, y, z coordinates. We will identify the octant for each given point by examining the signs of its coordinates.

In two-dimensional coordinate geometry, the xx-axis and yy-axis divide the plane into four regions called quadrants. Each quadrant is uniquely identified by the signs of the xx and yy coordinates. For example, in the first quadrant, both xx and yy are positive.

Extending this idea to three dimensions, the three coordinate planes — the xyxy-plane (z=0z=0), the yzyz-plane (x=0x=0), and the xzxz-plane (y=0y=0) — intersect at the origin (0,0,0)(0,0,0) and divide the entire space into eight regions. These regions are called octants.

Each octant is uniquely defined by the combination of signs of the xx, yy, and zz coordinates. There are 2×2×2=82 \times 2 \times 2 = 8 possible combinations of signs, corresponding to the 8 octants.

Here is a table summarizing the sign conventions for each octant:

Octant Namexx-coordinate signyy-coordinate signzz-coordinate sign
Octant IPositive (+)(+)Positive (+)(+)Positive (+)(+)
Octant IINegative (−)(-)Positive (+)(+)Positive (+)(+)
Octant IIINegative (−)(-)Negative (−)(-)Positive (+)(+)
Octant IVPositive (+)(+)Negative (−)(-)Positive (+)(+)
Octant VPositive (+)(+)Positive (+)(+)Negative (−)(-)
Octant VINegative (−)(-)Positive (+)(+)Negative (−)(-)
Octant VIINegative (−)(-)Negative (−)(-)Negative (−)(-)
Octant VIIIPositive (+)(+)Negative (−)(-)Negative (−)(-)

To determine the octant for any given point (x,y,z)(x,y,z), we simply need to observe the sign of each of its coordinates and match it to the table above.

Let's apply this to the given points:

  1. Point (i): (1,2,3)(1,2,3)

    • The xx-coordinate is 11 (positive).
    • The yy-coordinate is 22 (positive).
    • The zz-coordinate is 33 (positive).
    • Since all three coordinates are positive (+,+,+)(+,+,+), the point (1,2,3)(1,2,3) lies in Octant I.
  2. Point (ii): (4,−2,3)(4,-2,3)

    • The xx-coordinate is 44 (positive).
    • The yy-coordinate is −2-2 (negative).
    • The zz-coordinate is 33 (positive).
    • With signs (+,−,+)(+,-,+), the point (4,−2,3)(4,-2,3) lies in Octant IV.
  3. Point (iii): (4,−2,−5)(4,-2,-5)

    • The xx-coordinate is 44 (positive).
    • The yy-coordinate is −2-2 (negative).
    • The zz-coordinate is −5-5 (negative).
    • With signs (+,−,−)(+,-,-), the point (4,−2,−5)(4,-2,-5) lies in Octant VIII.
  4. Point (iv): (4,2,−5)(4,2,-5)

    • The xx-coordinate is 44 (positive).
    • The yy-coordinate is 22 (positive).
    • The zz-coordinate is −5-5 (negative).
    • With signs (+,+,−)(+,+,-), the point (4,2,−5)(4,2,-5) lies in Octant V.
  5. Point (v): (−4,2,5)(-4,2,5)

    • The xx-coordinate is −4-4 (negative).
    • The yy-coordinate is 22 (positive).
    • The zz-coordinate is 55 (positive).
    • With signs (−,+,+)(-,+,+), the point (−4,2,5)(-4,2,5) lies in Octant II.
  6. Point (vi): (−3,−1,6)(-3,-1,6)

    • The xx-coordinate is −3-3 (negative).
    • The yy-coordinate is −1-1 (negative).
    • The zz-coordinate is 66 (positive).
    • With signs (−,−,+)(-,-,+), the point (−3,−1,6)(-3,-1,6) lies in Octant III.
  7. Point (vii): (2,−4,−7)(2,-4,-7)

    • The xx-coordinate is 22 (positive).
    • The yy-coordinate is −4-4 (negative).
    • The zz-coordinate is −7-7 (negative).
    • With signs (+,−,−)(+,-,-), the point (2,−4,−7)(2,-4,-7) lies in Octant VIII.
  8. Point (viii): (−4,2,−5)(-4,2,-5)

    • The xx-coordinate is −4-4 (negative).
    • The yy-coordinate is 22 (positive).
    • The zz-coordinate is −5-5 (negative).
    • With signs (−,+,−)(-,+,-), the point (−4,2,−5)(-4,2,-5) lies in Octant VI.
✓Final answer

The octants for the given points are:

  1. (1,2,3)(1,2,3) is in Octant I.
  2. (4,−2,3)(4,-2,3) is in Octant IV.
  3. (4,−2,−5)(4,-2,-5) is in Octant VIII.
  4. (4,2,−5)(4,2,-5) is in Octant V.
  5. (−4,2,5)(-4,2,5) is in Octant II.
  6. (−3,−1,6)(-3,-1,6) is in Octant III.
  7. (2,−4,−7)(2,-4,-7) is in Octant VIII.
  8. (−4,2,−5)(-4,2,-5) is in Octant VI.

Unlock everything free for 14 days

  • Full step-by-step solutions
  • Concept-first explanations
  • Methods, shortcuts & mistakes
  • PYQ mapping + timed mock tests

Full access for 14 days. No credit card required.