Cartesian Coordinates

Cartesian coordinates can be used to pinpoint where we are on a map or graph.

Cartesian Coordinates

Using Cartesian Coordinates we mark a point on a graph by how far along and how far up it is:

graph with point (12,5)
The point (12,5) is 12 units along, and 5 units up.

 

graph with point (12,5)

They are also called Rectangular Coordinates because it is like we are forming a rectangle.

X and Y Axis

x axis The left-right (horizontal) direction is commonly called X.
y axis The up-down (vertical) direction is commonly called Y.
Put them together on a graph ...

x y axes

 

... and we are ready to go

Where they cross over is the "0" point,
we measure everything from there
.

  • The X Axis runs horizontally through zero
  • The Y Axis runs vertically through zero

Axis: The reference line from which distances are measured.

The plural of Axis is Axes, and is pronounced ax-eez

 

Example:

coord (6,4)

Point (6,4) is

6 units across (in the x direction), and

4 units up (in the y direction)

 

So (6,4) means:

Go along 6 and then go up 4 then "plot the dot".

And you can remember which axis is which by:

x is A CROSS, so x is ACROSS the page.

interactive-cartesian-coordinates  

Play With It !

Now is a good time to play with

Interactive Cartesian Coordinates

to see for yourself how it all works.

Like 2 Number Lines Put Together

It is like we put two Number Lines together, one going left-right, and the other going down-up.

Two Number Lines make cartesian coords

Direction

right arrow

As x increases, the point moves further right.
When x decreases, the point moves further to the left.

up arrow

As y increases, the point moves further up.
When y decreases, the point moves further down.

Writing Coordinates

The coordinates are always written in a certain order:

This is called an "ordered pair" (a pair of numbers in a special order)

And usually the numbers are separated by a comma, and parentheses are put around the whole thing like this:

(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 and Ordinate

You may hear the words "Abscissa" and "Ordinate" ... they are just the x and y values:

"Cartesian" ... ?

They are called Cartesian because the idea was developed by the mathematician and philosopher Rene Descartes who was also known as Cartesius.

He is also famous for saying "I think, therefore I am".

What About Negative Values of X and Y?

Just like with the Number Line, we can also have negative values.

Negative: start at zero and head in the opposite direction:

coords in 4 quadrants

So, for a negative number:

  • go backwards for x
  • go down for y


For example (-6,4) means:
go back along the x axis 6 then go up 4.


And (-6,-4) means:
go back along the x axis 6 then go down 4.

 

 

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)

Quadrants

In Quadrant I both x and y are positive, but ...

  • in Quadrant II x is negative (y is still positive),
  • in Quadrant III both x and y are negative, and
  • in Quadrant IV x is positive again, while y is negative.

Like this:

cartesian coordinates
Quadrant X
(horizontal)
Y
(vertical)
Example
I Positive Positive (3,2)
II Negative Positive  
III Negative Negative (-2,-1)
IV Positive 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: 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 a quadruped. and a quadrilateral is a four-sided polygon.

Dimensions: 1, 2, 3 and more ...

Think about this:

1

The Number Line can only go:

  • left-right

so any position needs just one number

2

Cartesian coordinates can go:

  • left-right, and
  • up-down

so any position needs two numbers

3

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,

that is three numbers, or 3 dimensions!

3 Dimensions

Cartesian coordinates can be used for locating points in 3 dimensions as in this example:

cartesian in 3d
Here the point (2, 4, 5) is shown in
three-dimensional Cartesian coordinates.

In fact, this idea can be continued into four dimensions and more - I just can't work out how to illustrate that for you!

 

753,754,755,756,1142,1143,1144, 3208, 3209, 3210