

On the other hand, a positive number specifies rightward or upward movement. A negative number signifies leftward or downward movement. Here, x is the horizontal distance from the origin and y is the vertical distance from the origin. The expression (x, y) references a point in this system. The Cartesian coordinate system has a horizontal axis called the x-axis and a vertical axis called the y-axis. The most common coordinate system used is the Cartesian coordinate system, which is sometimes called rectangular coordinates. Unless otherwise specified, coordinate geometry usually refers to two-dimensional coordinate geometry. Some common examples include distance, area, and circumference. In coordinate geometry, on the other hand, the location of a point relative to other points or objects is just as important as its existence.īecause coordinate geometry uses units, it is possible to develop equations and formulae to relate objects and discover properties about objects. Unlike pure geometry, however, it uses a reference system and units to define properties of these objects.įor example, in pure geometry, a point is simply “that which has no part,” and its existence will be postulated. We will discuss various subtopics of coordinate geometry in this section, including:Ĭoordinate geometry is similar to pure geometry in that it focuses on objects like points, lines, and circles. It is the opposite of pure geometry, which does not make use of any formulae or specific points on the Cartesian plane.
Coordinate Geometry – Explanation and ExamplesĬoordinate geometry is defined as the study of objects and shapes in a specified coordinate system.Īnalytical geometry and Cartesian geometry are two other names for coordinate geometry.
