Understanding the Rectangular Coordinate System | A Guide to Representing and Analyzing Geometric Shapes, Functions, and Data

Rectangular Coordinate System

The rectangular coordinate system, also known as the Cartesian coordinate system, is a two-dimensional grid used to represent points in a plane

The rectangular coordinate system, also known as the Cartesian coordinate system, is a two-dimensional grid used to represent points in a plane. It is named after the mathematician Rene Descartes, who established this system in the 17th century.

The rectangular coordinate system consists of two perpendicular lines called axes. The horizontal axis is called the x-axis, while the vertical axis is called the y-axis. The point where these two axes intersect is called the origin, denoted by the coordinates (0,0).

Each point in the plane is represented by an ordered pair of numbers (x, y), where x represents the horizontal position (measured along the x-axis) and y represents the vertical position (measured along the y-axis).

The x-axis is divided into positive and negative regions. The positive x-axis lies to the right of the origin, while the negative x-axis lies to the left. Similarly, the y-axis is divided into positive and negative regions, with the positive y-axis above the origin and the negative y-axis below.

The distance between any two points in the rectangular coordinate system can be found using the distance formula, which is derived from the Pythagorean theorem. The formula is given by:

Distance = √((x2 – x1)^2 + (y2 – y1)^2)

This system is widely used in mathematics and various fields, including physics, engineering, and computer science, to represent and analyze geometric shapes, functions, and data. It allows for precise location and measurement of points in a plane.

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