Question

explain how an object can have a negative position in a coordinate system.

Explanation:

In a coordinate system, position is relative to an origin. Negative positions occur when an object is in the opposite - direction of the defined positive - direction from the origin. For example, on a number line (a one - dimensional coordinate system), values to the left of 0 are negative. In a two - or three - dimensional system, negative coordinates can represent positions in the opposite quadrants or octants relative to the positive axes directions.

Answer:

Position in a coordinate system is relative to an origin. Negative positions are in the opposite direction of the defined positive - direction from the origin.