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    Cartesian Coordinate System

    Illustration

    Illustration

    Alternate names

    Cartesian coordinate system | rectangular coordinates

    Basic definition

    Cartesian coordinates are the usual coordinate system, originally described by Descartes, in which points are specified as distances to a set of perpendicular axes. Also called rectangular coordinates.

    Detailed definition

    Cartesian coordinates are rectilinear two- or three-dimensional coordinates (and therefore a special case of curvilinear coordinates) which are also called rectangular coordinates. The two axes of two-dimensional Cartesian coordinates, conventionally denoted the x- and y-axes (a notation due to Descartes), are chosen to be linear and mutually perpendicular. Typically, the x-axis is thought of as the

    Related terms

    6-sphere coordinates | Cartesian geometry | coordinates | Helmholtz differential equation--Cartesian coordinates

    Educational grade level

    elementary school level (California grade 4 standard)

    Associated person

    René Descartes

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