CARTESIAN COORDINATE SYSTEM
The Cartesian coordinate system (also called the rectangular coordinate system) is a two-dimensional system of points and lines that is used to describe the position of objects in space. It consists of two perpendicular axes, the x-axis (horizontal) and the y-axis (vertical), which intersect at a point called the origin. The point (x, y) represents the position of a point that lies on the x-axis at a distance x units from the origin, and on the y-axis at a distance y units from the origin.
The Cartesian coordinate system was named after the French philosopher and mathematician René Descartes (1596-1650), who developed the system in 1637. The use of Cartesian coordinates has made it easier to solve mathematical problems involving geometric shapes and coordinates. For example, the coordinates of the vertices of a triangle can be used to calculate its area.
The Cartesian coordinate system is used in many areas of science and engineering, including physics, chemistry, and computer science. It is used to represent the position of objects in two-dimensional and three-dimensional space. It is also used to represent vectors, which are arrows that have direction and magnitude.
The Cartesian coordinate system is also used in graphics, where it is used to define the position of points on the screen. This allows the creation of shapes and objects on the screen. The Cartesian coordinate system is also used in CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software, where it is used to define the position of objects in three-dimensional space.
The Cartesian coordinate system can be used to graph equations, which can be used to visualize relationships between variables. This can be used to solve problems in algebra and calculus.
In summary, the Cartesian coordinate system is a two-dimensional system of points and lines that is used to describe the position of objects in space. It was developed by René Descartes in 1637 and is used in many areas of science and engineering. It is used to represent vectors, to define the position of points on the screen, and to graph equations.
References
Barton, P. (2020). Cartesian Coordinates. Retrieved from https://www.mathsisfun.com/data/cartesian-coordinates.html
Descartes, R. (1637). La Géométrie. Paris: Chez Michal Soly.
Riley, K. (2019). What are Cartesian Coordinates? Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/cartesian-coordinates-2312156
Weiss, M. (2020). Cartesian Coordinates. Retrieved from https://www.mathopenref.com/coordcartesian.html