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Cartesian Coordinate System

The cartesian coordinate system is a branch of mathematics that tells about how to represent a point
uniquely in the n-dimensional coordinate plane. The theory of the cartesian system was proposed by a
French philosopher and mathematician called Rene Descartes in the 17th century. This cartesian
coordinate system provided the relationship between Euclidean geometry and algebra, which has
revolutionized the study of mathematics. The cartesian coordinate system is the foundation of analytical
geometry and helps in the representation of lines, curves, geometric figures in the n-dimensional plane.
Let us learn more about the cartesian system and the terms associated with it.

What Is Cartesian System?

The system which we use to label points in a plane is known as the Cartesian System. The cartesian form
is derived from the number line. To understand the cartesian coordinate system we must know about
the number line thoroughly. In this system, we have the following defined parameters such as:

Two perpendicular lines are named as X-axis and Y-axis.

The plane is called the Cartesian, or coordinate plane and the two lines X and Y when put together are
called the coordinate axes of the system.

The two coordinate axes divide the plane into four parts called quadrants.
The intersection point of the axes is the zero of the Cartesian System. This point will generally be
denoted by O. The coordinates of the origin are denoted as (0, 0).

To specify the position of any point P in the plane, we measure the distance x we have to move along X,
and then the distance y we have to move parallel to Y, to reach from O to P. Distances can be negative.

For example, if you have to move right, then x will be positive. Similarly, if you have to move down on Y,
then y will be negative.

The two real numbers x and y plotted together will describe the position of P uniquely. We can write this
as follows: P = (5, 6) [from the below figure]. Thus, the location of P can be labeled uniquely by two real
numbers. For different positions of P, this pair of real numbers will be different.

Now observe the following graphical representation of cartesian coordinates and read the above
description again.

Cartesian system

Let us discuss a few parameters associated with the cartesian system to have a basic understanding of
how well we can read the coordinates.

Cartesian Coordinates

In the cartesian system, the x-coordinate of a point is its perpendicular distance from the y-axis. It is
measured along the x-axis which is positive along the positive direction and negative along the negative
direction. For point P, it is +5 on the positive x-axis. This x-coordinate is called the abscissa.

In the cartesian system, the y-coordinate of a point is its perpendicular distance from the x-axis. It is
measured along the y-axis. For point P, it is +6 on the positive y-axis. This y-coordinate is called the
ordinate.

Dimensions of Cartesian System

In the cartesian coordinate system we generally start the bifurcation with one dimension, then two-
dimension, and then a three-dimensional system. Let us discuss these three cartesian systems
dimensions in detail.
One Dimensional Cartesian Coordinate System

The cartesian coordinate system for a one-dimensional space is a straight line having the origin O and a
positive side and a negative side of the line. One-dimensional means either the plane have a horizontal
line or a vertical line. If the line is horizontally plotted then the right side is taken as positive and the left
side is taken as negative. Whereas, if the line is oriented vertically then the upper part of the line is
taken as positive and the lower part of the line is taken as negative.

Each point on the line is specified with reference to the origin, and with a defined scale. The coordinate
of the point is prefixed with a + or - sign and the numeric value to represent its distance from the origin
O. Generally the one-dimensional line is referred to as the number line and any of the real numbers can
be conveniently represented on this number line.

Two Dimensional Cartesian Coordinate System

A cartesian plane divides the plane space into two dimensions and is useful to easily locate the points. It
is also referred to as the coordinate plane. The two axes of the coordinate plane are the horizontal x-axis
and the vertical y-axis. These coordinate axes divide the plane into four quadrants, and the point of
intersection of these axes is the origin (0, 0). Further, any point in the coordinate plane is referred to by
a point (x, y), where the x value is the position of the point with reference to the x-axis, and the y value
is the position of the point with reference to the y-axis. The coordinates of the point in the first quadrant
are (+x, +y), the second quadrant is (-x, +y), the third quadrant is (-x, -y), and the fourth quadrant is (+x, -
y).

Three Dimensional Cartesian Coordinate System

The three-dimensional cartesian coordinate system consists of three axes, the x-axis, the y-axis, and the
z-axis, which are mutually perpendicular to each other and have the same units of length across all three
axes. Similar to the two-dimensional coordinate system, where the point of intersection of these three
axes is the origin O, and these axes divide the space into eight octants. Any point in space is represented
with the coordinates (x, y, z). The x value of the point (x, y, z) is referred to as the abscissa, the y value of
the point is referred to as the ordinate and the z value is referred to as applicate.

Further the coordinates of a points in the eight octants are represented as (+x,+y,+z), (-x,+y,+z), (+x,+y,-
z), (-x,+y,-z), (+x,-y,+z), (-x,-y,+z), (+x,-y,-z), (-x,-y,-z).
Please note, the cartesian coordinate system can have an n-dimensional system to represent numerous
quantities at once. But the higher dimensions cannot be presented geometrically and assumed in theory
only. The higher dimensional systems have major applications in computer programming and artificial
intelligence.

Cartesian System Formulas

The formulas of the cartesian coordinate system help in conveniently proving the various properties of
lines, curves, planes in a two-dimensional and three-dimensional system. The formulas of the cartesian
coordinate system include the distance formula, slope formula, midpoint formula, section formula,
equations of a line in two and three dimensions, equations of curves, and equations of a plane. Let us
know more about each of the formulas in the below paragraphs.

Cartesian Coordinates Distance Formula

The distance between two points

and

)
 is equal to the square root of the sum of the squares of the difference of the x coordinates and the y-
coordinates of the two given points. The formula for the distance between two points is as follows.

D=

Slope Formula

The slope of a line is the inclination of the line. The slope can be calculated from the angle made by the
line with the positive x-axis, or by taking any two points on the line. The slope of a line inclined at an
angle θ with the positive x-axis is m = Tanθ. The slope of a line joining the two points

(
x

and

is equal to m =

−
x

Mid-Point Formula

The formula to find the midpoint of the line joining the points

and

is a new point, whose abscissa is the average of the x values of the two given points, and the ordinate is
the average of the y values of the two given points. The midpoint lies on the line joining the two points
and is located exactly between the two points.

(
x

Section Formula

The section formula is useful to find the coordinates of a point that divides the line segment joining the
points

1
,

and

in the ratio

. The point dividing the given two points lies on the line joining the two points and is available either
between the two points or on the line, beyond the two points.

(
m

Cartesian Equation of a Line

This equation of a line represents all the points on the line, with the help of a simple linear equation.
The standard form of the equation of a line is ax + by + c= 0. There are different methods to find the
equation of a line. Another important form of the equation of a line is the slope-intercept form of the
equation of a line (y = mx + c). Here m is the slope of the line and c is the y-intercept of the line. Further,
the other forms of the equation of a line are point-slope form, two-point form, intercept form, and the
normal form. The differential equations of a line are as follows.

Point Slope Form: (y - y

) = m(x - x

Two Point Form:

2
−

Slope Intercept Form: y = mx + c

Intercept Form:

Normal Form: xcosθ + ysinθ = P

Cartesian Equation of a Plane

The equation of a plane in a cartesian coordinate system can be computed through different methods
based on the available inputs values about the plane. The following are the four different expressions
for the equation of plane.

Normal Form: Equation of a plane at a perpendicular distance d from the origin and having a unit normal
vector
^

is

= d.

Through three Non Collinear Lines: The equation of a plane passing through three non collinear points

, and

, is

a
)

Intersection of Two Planes: The equation of a plane passing through the intersection of two planes

.
^

, and

, is

λ
→

☛Important Notes on Cartesian Coordinate System

The point of intersection of both the axes is known as the origin and its coordinates are (0, 0).

There can be an infinite number of points on a cartesian coordinate plane.

Points that lie on any of the number lines do not belong to any quadrant.

A point that is above the x-axis has its y-coordinate positive and if the point lies below the x-axis, then its
y-coordinate is negative.

A point that lies to the right of the y-axis has its x-coordinate positive and if the point lies to the left of
the y-axis, then the x-coordinate in negative.

☛Related Topics

The following topic would be helpful in better understanding of the cartesian coordinate system.

Coordinate Plane
Plane Definition

Polar Coordinates

Cartesian Coordinates

Coordinate Geometry

Equation of a Plane

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Cartesian Coordinate Worksheets

Cartesian Coordinate Worksheet

Cartesian Coordinate Worksheet

Cartesian Coordinate System Examples

Example 1: Plot the following points in the Cartesian plane:

A (1.3, 2.4)

B ( - 2.7, 3.2)

C ( - 1.1, - 3.6)

D (4, - 2)

Solution: We note that A, B, C, and D are respectively in the first, second, third, and fourth quadrants:
Cartesian coordinate system example

Example 2: Jacob and Ethan want to make a frame using the coordinates (1,2),(3,2),(3,0),(1,0). Based on
the coordinates, Jacob says that the frame will be a square while Ethan says that the frame will be a
parallelogram. Can you identify who is right?

Solution:

We need to draw the above coordinates on a cartesian plane to check the shape they will form.

Cartesian coordinates example

We can clearly see that the figure thus obtained is a square as all the four sides are equal and all the four
interior angles are 90°. Therefore, Jacob is right.

Example 3: If the four quadrants represent the following 4 states of the US:

1st Quadrant California

2nd Quadrant Florida

3rd Quadrant Texas

4th Quadrant Arizona

Can you identify in which state these points lie?

A (4, -2)

B (-3, -5)

C (1, 2)

D (-7, 1)

E (-2, -6)
Solution: On identification below mentioned are the places where the points lie.

Point A lies in Arizona

Point B lies in Texas

Point C lies in California

Point D lies in Florida

Point E lies in Texas

Cartesian Plane

Example 4: Find the distance between the points (4, 7) and (2, 3) in the cartesian coordinate system?

Solution:

The given points are

= (4, 7), and

x
2

= (2, 3).

The formula to find the distance between two points in a cartesian coordinate system are as follows.

D=

y
1

D=

2
+

16

Therefore, the distance between the two points is

.
Example 5: What is the equation of the line in the cartesian coordinate system, having a slope of -2 and
a y-intercept of 5?

Solution:

The given slope of the line is m = -2, and the y-intercept of the line is c = 5.

The required equation of the line is y = mx + c.

y = -2x + 5

2x + y = 5.

Therefore, the required equation of the line is 2x + y = 5.

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Practice Questions on Cartesian Coordinate System

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FAQs on Cartesian Coordinate System

What Is Meant By Cartesian Coordinate System?

What Is the Cartesian Coordinate System Used For?

How Do We Represent a Point in a Cartesian Coordinate System?

How Do We Represent a Line in a Cartesian Coordinate System?

How Do You Represent A Conic In A Cartesian Coordinate System?

How Do You Represent A Line in A Three Dimensional Cartesian Coordinate System?

How Do We Represent a Plane in a Cartesian Coordinate System?

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