Cartesian coordinates can be used to pinpoint where you are on a map or graph.
Cartesian Coordinates
Using Cartesian Coordinates you mark a point on a graph by how far along and how far
up it is:
X and Y Axis
The left-right (horizontal) direction is commonly called X.
Example:
Point (6,4) is
6 units across (in the x direction), and
4 units up (in the y direction)
So (6,4) means:
Direction
As x increases, the point moves further right.
When x decreases, the point moves further to the left.
Writing Coordinates
The coordinates are always written in a certain order:
(3,2)
Example: (3,2) means 3 units to the right, and 2 units up
Example: (0,5) means 0 units to the right, and 5 units up.
In other words, only 5 units up.
The Origin
The point (0,0) is given the special name "The Origin", and is sometimes given the letter
"O".
Abscissa: the horizontal ("x") value in a pair of coordinates: how far along the point is
Ordinate: the vertical ("y") value in a pair of coordinates: how far up or down the point is
"Cartesian" ... ?
They are called Cartesian because the idea was developed by the mathematician and
philosopher Rene Descartes who was also known as Cartesius.
go backwards for x
go down for y
Four Quadrants
When we include negative values, the x and y axes
divide the space up into 4 pieces:
Quadrants I, II, III and IV
(They are numbered in a counterclockwise direction)
Like this:
Quadrant
I
II
III
IV
(horizontal)
(vertical)
Positive
Negative
Negative
Positive
Positive
Positive
Negative
Negative
Example: The point "A" (3,2) is 3 units along, and 2 units up.
Both x and y are positive, so that point is in "Quadrant I"
Example
(3,2)
(-2,-1)
Example: The point "C" (-2,-1) is 2 units along in the negative direction, and 1 unit down (i.e.
negative direction).
Both x and y are negative, so that point is in "Quadrant III"
Note: The word Quadrant comes form quad meaning four. For example, four babies born
at one birth are called quadruplets, a four-legged animal is aquadruped. and
a quadrilateral is a four-sided polygon.
left-right
left-right, and
up-down
How do we locate a spot in the real world (such as the tip of your
nose)? We need to know:
left-right,
up-down, and
forward-backward,
3 Dimensions
Cartesian coordinates can be used for locating points in 3 dimensions as in this example: