Introduction to coordinate geometry
Coordinate geometry, also known as analytic geometry, combines algebra and geometry by using a coordinate system to represent geometric objects algebraically. This powerful mathematical approach allows us to solve geometric problems using algebraic methods.
The Cartesian coordinate system
The foundation of coordinate geometry is the Cartesian coordinate system, named after the French mathematician René Descartes. This system consists of:
- Two perpendicular number lines called axes: the horizontal x-axis and the vertical y-axis
- The point of intersection of these axes, called the origin (0,0)
- A method for specifying any point in the plane using an ordered pair of numbers (x,y)