Cartesian coordinate system

Cartesian coordinate system n. A coordinate system in which the coordinates of a point are its distances from a set of perpendicular lines that intersect at an origin, such as two lines in a plane or three in space.

Cartesian coordinate system top: two-dimensional coordinate system bottom: three-dimensional coordinate system

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Cartesian coordinate system  (kär-tzhn)

A system in which the location of a point is given by coordinates that represent its distances from perpendicular lines that intersect at a point called the origin. A Cartesian coordinate system in a plane has two perpendicular lines (the x-axis and y-axis); in three-dimensional space, it has three (the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis). Compare polar coordinate system.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

Cartesian coordinate system - a coordinate system for which the coordinates of a point are its distances from a set perpendicular lines that intersect at the origin of the system coordinate system, frame of reference, reference frame, reference system - a system that uses coordinates to establish position