CARTESIAN COORDINATES
\kɑːtˈiːzi͡ən kə͡ʊˈɔːdɪnəts], \kɑːtˈiːziən kəʊˈɔːdɪnəts], \k_ɑː_t_ˈiː_z_iə_n k_əʊ_ˈɔː_d_ɪ_n_ə_t_s]\
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(After Renee Descartes, Frenchphilosopher and mathematician) A pair of numbers, (x, y),defining the position of a point in a two-dimensional space byits perpendicular projection onto two axes which are at rightangles to each other. x and y are also known as theabscissa and ordinate.The idea can be generalised to any number of independent axes.Compare polar coordinates.
By Denis Howe
