The Cartesian coordinate system is a mathematical tool used to describe the position, direction, and magnitude of points in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional space. It consists of two perpendicular axes known as the x-axis and y-axis in two dimensions or the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis in three dimensions. These axes intersect at a common point called the origin.
Each point in the Cartesian coordinate system is assigned a set of numbers, known as coordinates, that represent its distance or displacement from the origin along each axis. The x-coordinate represents the horizontal distance from the origin, and the y-coordinate represents the vertical distance. In three dimensions, the z-coordinate represents the distance in the third or depth dimension.
The coordinates are usually written as an ordered pair (x, y) in two dimensions or as an ordered triple (x, y, z) in three dimensions. They are typically expressed as numerical values, although they can also be symbolic or algebraic expressions.
The Cartesian coordinate system is an essential tool in various fields such as mathematics, physics, engineering, and computer science. It provides a standardized and precise method for describing the location of objects or points in space, which is crucial for solving equations, graphing functions, analyzing geometric shapes, and modeling real-world phenomena.
