Scribd
Upload
699 views17 pages

Cartesian Coordinate System

The Cartesian coordinate system specifies each point in a plane or space uniquely using a set of perpendicular axes that intersect at an origin point. In a plane, each point is identified by its horizontal (x) and vertical (y) distance from the origin. In three dimensions, a third axis (z) is added to specify the depth of each point. René Descartes invented Cartesian coordinates in the 1600s to relate geometry to algebra. The system allows mapping any dimensional space (1D, 2D, 3D, etc.) by measuring distances along oriented axes from a shared origin point.

Uploaded by

ertyu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
699 views17 pages

Cartesian Coordinate System

The Cartesian coordinate system specifies each point in a plane or space uniquely using a set of perpendicular axes that intersect at an origin point. In a plane, each point is identified by its horizontal (x) and vertical (y) distance from the origin. In three dimensions, a third axis (z) is added to specify the depth of each point. René Descartes invented Cartesian coordinates in the 1600s to relate geometry to algebra. The system allows mapping any dimensional space (1D, 2D, 3D, etc.) by measuring distances along oriented axes from a shared origin point.

Uploaded by

ertyu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 17

Cartesian Coordinate

System

WORD CLOUD

Introduction

A Cartesian coordinate system is a coordinate system


that specifies each point uniquely in a plane by a pair of
numerical coordinates, which are the signed distances
from the point to two fixed perpendicular directed lines,
measured in the same unit of length.

Each reference line is called a coordinate axis or just


axis of the system, and the point where they meet is its
origin, usually at ordered pair (0, 0). The coordinates can
also be defined as the positions of the perpendicular
projections of the point onto the two axes, expressed as
signed distances from the origin.

History

Cartesian mathematics
was invented by (and is
named after) French
philosopher,
physicist,
physiologist,
and
mathematician
Ren
Descartes, 1596 - 1650.

1D

Choosing a Cartesian coordinate system for a one


dimensional spacethat is, for a straight lineinvolves
choosing a point O of the line (the origin), a unit of length,
and an orientation for the line.

An orientation chooses which of the two half-lines


determined by O is the positive, and which is negative; we
then say that the line is oriented (or points) from the
negative half towards the positive half. Then each point P
of the line can be specified by its distance from O, taken
with a + or sign depending on which half-line contains P.

1D (contd.)

A line with a chosen Cartesian system is called a


number line. Every real number has a unique location on
the line. Conversely, every point on the line can be
interpreted as a number in an ordered continuum such as
the real numbers.

Number Line

2D

The modern Cartesian coordinate system in two


dimensions is defined by an ordered pair of perpendicular
axes, a single unit of length for both axes, and an
orientation for each axis. The axes are commonly referred
to as the x- and y-axes where the x-axis is taken to be
horizontal and the y-axis is taken to be vertical. The point
where the axes meet is taken as the origin for both, thus
turning each axis into a number line

2D (contd.)

For a given point P, a line is drawn through P


perpendicular to the x-axis to meet it at X and second line
is drawn through P perpendicular to the y-axis to meet it at
Y. The coordinates of P are then X and Y interpreted as
numbers x and y on the corresponding number lines. The
coordinates are written as an ordered pair (x, y).

The value of x is called the x-coordinate or abscissa


and the value of y is called the y-coordinate or ordinate.

2D (contd.)

xy coordinate
system

3D

Choosing a Cartesian coordinate system for a three


dimensional space means choosing an ordered triplet of
axes that are pair-wise perpendicular, have a single unit of
length for all three axes and have an orientation for each
axis. As in the two-dimensional case, each axis becomes
a number line.

The coordinates of a point P are obtained by drawing


a line through P perpendicular to each coordinate axis,
and reading the points where these lines meet the axes as
three numbers of these number lines.

3D (contd.)

xyz
coordinate
system

You might also like