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Glite Dictionary
Cartesian coordinate

Cartesian coordinate

1 6.3
A number that shows the position of a point on a graph, like the x or y value
  • noun
  • /kɑrˈtiːzjən ˈkɔːrdɪnət/
  • Specialized
translation icon : coordenada cartesiana
  • When graphing functions, it is important to accurately label the Cartesian coordinates on the axes.
  • Cartesian coordinate system
  • Use Cartesian coordinates

Now we're going to do the analog of Cartesian coordinates for Minkowski space.

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Examples

  • Use Cartesian coordinates and other coordinate systems, such as navigational, polar, or spherical systems, to analyze geometric situations.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Referring to the set of Cartesian coordinates shown in Fig. 1, the surface of the soil (i.e., ground level), which is designated boundary S, is located at y = 0, and the center of the aggregate is located on the vertical axis at y = -h.

    Academic text (2018)

  • G&M code is based on a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system.

    Academic text (2011)

  • It can be difficult for students to imagine a three-dimensional part and how to cut it using the Cartesian coordinate system.

    Academic text (2011)

  • We can use this formula because all triangles in our Cartesian coordinate system are right triangles.

    Academic text (2011)

  • For example, using the Cartesian coordinate system from the point of origin, a point is determined to be X=5, Y=3.5.

    Academic text (2011)

  • For math classes, the CK-5 offers Cartesian coordinates templates for two and three axes.

    Academic text (2003)

  • A point is represented by a single x, y coordinate in a Cartesian coordinate system that is usually geographically referenced (i.e., tied to real locations on the earth's surface).

    Academic text (1998)

  • In a Cartesian coordinate system, the point (3, 4) is located 3 units along the x-axis and 4 units along the y-axis.

  • To find the intersection of two lines, plot their equations in a Cartesian coordinate system and identify their Cartesian coordinates.

Synonyms

coordinate
vsCartesian coordinate
  • Specialized
407 4.5

A number that shows where a point is on a map or graph

refers specifically to a value giving distance from axes or planes

Surface Forms

Cartesian coordinate singular
Cartesian coordinates plural

Morphology

Cartesian + coordinate

The phrase is directly compositional: 'Cartesian' qualifies the type of coordinate (relating to Descartes' coordinate system) and 'coordinate' names the numeric value locating a point. A learner who knows both constituent meanings can infer it denotes a coordinate in the Cartesian coordinate system, so the meaning is transparent despite being somewhat technical.

Etymology

Cartesian coordinate comes from the French thinker René Descartes, who showed how to use numbers like an 'address' on a grid to find a point. A coordinate is 'one of the values that gives a point's position', so the name helps us remember that each coordinate is a number that tells where the point is.