gash gives YOU 900d visual impression ofthe way ye asqranh shows the results of on a ‘ere that Measured the voltage in i eihacrial circuit when different currents V2 owing. The points are approximately essere line ju could se this 9raph to find the voltage TGony current you choose. For example, ‘eitead up trom 0.6 amps on the horizontal 1S tthe ani) to the graph line you find fatthe voltage on the vertical axis (the is 066 volts and if the curent is 08 ‘rps the voltage i 0.88 volts. oucan see that there isa constant donship between current and voltage: ‘becurent in amps is 11 x the voltage in da as oe salts You can show this 95 an equation: amet ona {y= 14 (voltage ison the yas and current ison the axis) Ten you can use this equation to find the voltage for any current you choose. You can also tseitto find the current for any voltage. Once you know the reletionship between variables, ‘using the equation is quicker and easier than using the graph. Thisconnection between the geometry of graphs snd the algebra of equations was made by a French mathematician, René Descartes in the 17th ‘century CE. This picture shows him at work. Te coordinates in such graphs are called Cartesian ‘cordinates (in Latin his name was Cartesius) and they grid they appear on is called the Cartesian >» | The grid can be extended to include negative salves as well. he graphs and equations shown | enit are not always straight-line ones, as you will ‘ein ater chapters