For example, Merriam-Webster states an anscissa is “The horizontal coordinate of a point in a plane Cartesian coordinate system obtained by measuring parallel to the x-axis.” Use caution here, as this definition only works with positive numbers! Some dictionaries state that the terms are the distance between two points.While Ordinate and Abscissa are generally used to describe the first and second points in a coordinate system, they are sometimes used to mean something slightly different. Ordinate and Abcissa: Other Definitions and Uses For the point -1.5,-2.5, -1.5 is the abscissa and -2.5 is the ordinate.ĭon’t forget that the first point you get will always be on the X portion of the graph, and the second number will always be the Y.Following up, the point (0,0), 0 is the abscissa and the ordinate.For the second point (2,3), 3 is the ordinate.The first point (-3,1), -3 is the abscissa.The above graph shows four ordered pairs: The ordinate is the y-value (the second number in an ordered pair).The abscissa is the x-value (the first number in an ordered pair).Ordinate and abscissa refer to ordered pairs on a Cartesian plane. Ordinate and Abscissa on a Cartesian Plane It gave us the first systematic link between algebra and geometry. In other words, the point is two spaces below zero.įun fact: The invention of this system was revolutionary for its time. The second number (-2) is where the point is on the y-axis. In other words, the point is one space to the left of zero. In this example, the first number in the set of ordered numbers listed (-1) is where the point is on the x-axis. When it comes to trig, there are four corners you need to know about on the graph. Quadrants make up a lot of the work when it comes to trigonometry. The graph is named after the 16th century mathematician Rene Descartes. The Cartesian plane showing several ordered pairs, which represent points on the graph. For example, (2,3) means 2 spaces on the x-axis and 3 on the y-axis. The first point you get will always be on the X portion of the graph, and the second number will always be the Y. Each point on the plane has a unique set of numbers, called ordered pairs. The Cartesian plane matches a point on the plane with a pair of numbers located on the x and y axes. Simply put: a Cartesian plane is just a number line with another number line at right angles. For the y-axis, numbers below zero are negative and numbers above are positive. Numbers to the right of the zero on the x-axis are positive numbers to the left of zero are negative.
The origin (O) is in the exact center of the graph. These two axes are perpendicular to each other. Cartesian Coordinate GraphĪ Cartesian plane is a graph with one x-axis and one y-axis (that’s why it’s sometimes called an X Y graph). Contents (Click to skip to that section):