Cartesian coordinates

(After Renee Descartes, French

philosopher and mathematician) A pair of numbers, (x, y),

defining the position of a point in a two-dimensional space by

its perpendicular projection onto two axes which are at right

angles to each other. x and y are also known as the

{abscissa} and {ordinate}.

The idea can be generalised to any number of independent axes.

Compare {polar coordinates}.

(1997-07-08)