Coordinate system

Definition

A coordinate system is a framework for determining the position of points or vectors in space using numbers, typically defined by axes. Common types include Cartesian and polar coordinate systems.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Cartesian coordinate system uses perpendicular axes (usually labeled x, y, and z) to define points in space.
2. In a two-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system, any point can be represented as (x, y).
3. The polar coordinate system represents points using a radius and angle from a reference direction.
4. Vectors can be broken down into components along the axes of the chosen coordinate system.
5. Transforming between different coordinate systems often involves trigonometric functions.

Review Questions

• What are the main differences between Cartesian and polar coordinate systems?
• How would you represent a vector in three-dimensional Cartesian coordinates?
• What mathematical functions are often used to convert from Cartesian to polar coordinates?

Related terms

Vector Components:

Projections of a vector along the axes of a coordinate system.

Cartesian Coordinate System: A coordinate system that specifies each point uniquely by a pair of numerical coordinates, which are the signed distances to the point from two fixed perpendicular directed lines.

Polar Coordinate System: A two-dimensional coordinate system where each point on a plane is determined by an angle and a distance from a reference point.