Coordinate System (original) (raw)

TOPICS

Algebra Applied Mathematics Calculus and Analysis Discrete Mathematics Foundations of Mathematics Geometry History and Terminology Number Theory Probability and Statistics Recreational Mathematics Topology

Alphabetical Index New in MathWorld

• Geometry
• Coordinate Geometry

A system for specifying points using coordinates measured in some specified way. The simplest coordinate system consists of coordinate axes oriented perpendicularly to each other, known as Cartesian coordinates. Depending on the type of problem under consideration, coordinate systems possessing special properties may allow particularly simple solution.

In three dimensions, so-called right-handed coordinate systems (left figure) are usually chosen by convention, although left-handed coordinate systems (right figure) are also encountered occasionally.

See also

Coordinates, Curvilinear Coordinates, Cyclidic Coordinates, Left-Handed Coordinate System, Right-Handed Coordinate System, Skew Coordinate System,Orthogonal Coordinate System

Explore with Wolfram|Alpha

More things to try:

• 6-sphere coordinates
• polar coordinates of vector (-1, -1)
• spherical coordinates of vector (1, 2, 3)

Cite this as:

Weisstein, Eric W. "Coordinate System." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Web Resource. https://mathworld.wolfram.com/CoordinateSystem.html

Subject classifications

• Geometry
• Coordinate Geometry