02

CARTESIAN PLANE/
COORDINATE SYSTEM
CARTESIAN PLANE/COORDINATE SYSTEM

In this tutorial, we introduce

cartesian plane/coordinate systems
for two and three-dimensional space.
CARTESIAN PLANE/COORDINATE SYSTEM

We will see that coordinate system provide

particularly simple descriptions of lines
and planes in space.
CARTESIAN PLANE/COORDINATE SYSTEM

RENE DESCARTES (1596-1650)

CARTESIAN PLANE/COORDINATE SYSTEM
CARTESIAN PLANE/COORDINATE SYSTEM
CARTESIAN PLANE/COORDINATE SYSTEM
COORDINATE PLANE

5 1, 5

 4, 2 

-5 5

7,  1
 2,  2 
-5
COORDINATE PLANE

In mathematics, a plane is a flat surface

that goes forever in every direction.

In Algebra, we often use coordinate

plane
The coordinate plane is divided by two
number lines. One is horizontal, like
the number line you already know.

-10 -5 0 5 10
The other is vertical, with up being
the positive direction and down being
the negative direction.
 5

-10 -5 0 5 10

-5
In Quadrant II, x-values are In Quadrant I, all values are
negative, while y-values are positive.
5
positive.

II I
-10 -5 0 5 10

III IV
In Quadrant III, x- and y-values -5 In Quadrant IV, x-values are
are both negative. positive and y-values are
negative.
(5, 6) is an example of an ordered pair.
A(– 4, 6)
A(– 4, 6)
B(2, – 3)
D(7, 3)
C(– 6, – 4)

D(7, 3)

B(2, – 3)
C(– 6, – 4)
CAUTION!

The parentheses used to represent

an ordered pair are also used to
represent an open interval. The
context of the discussion tells whether
ordered pairs or open intervals are
being represented.
 02
GRAPHING EQUATIONS BY
PLOTTING POINTS
Graphing Equations by Plotting points
Linear Equation: an equation whose graph forms a line. Linear
means of a line. So a linear equation is the equation of a line. In
linear equations, all variables are taken to the first power.

3x  4 y  11 is linear.
x+y=3
x -3
y 0
x = -3
-3 + y = 3
y=0
 x -3 0 3
y 0 3 6 x+y=3

x=0
0+y=3 , y=3
x=3
3+y=3 , y=6
With your table completed for three sets of
values, you are ready to graph the line.

x y 3

x 0 3 3
y 3 0 6
When x is 0, y is 3, so plot the point, (0, 3).

x y 3 0, 3

x 0 3 3
y 3 0 6
And when x is 3, y is 0, so plot the point, (3,
0).

x y 3

x 0 3 3 3, 0
y 3 0 6
And finally, when x is -3, y is 6, so plot the
point, (-3, 6).

x y 3  3, 6

x 0 3 3
y 3 0 6
This is the graph of the linear equation,
x  y  3.
MIDPOINT OF A LINE SEGMENT
MIDPOINT OF A LINE SEGMENT

27
Example 1 - Find a Midpoint on a Number Line

Method 1
The distance from -3 to 4 is 7. Half of 7 is 3.5,
which you add to -3. The midpoint is 0.5.
Example 1 - Find a Midpoint on a Number Line

Method 2
Use the midpoint formula
3 4 1
  0.5
2 2
Example 2 – Find the Coordinates of a Midpoint

Find the coordinates of M, the midpoint of

PQ, for P(-1, 2) and Q(6, 1)

Let P be (x1, y1) and Q be (x2, y2)

x x y  y    1  6 2  1
M ,1 2
  M
1 2
, 
 2 2   2 2 
5 3
 M , 
2 2
Example 3: Finding the Coordinates of an Endpoint

M is the midpoint of XY. X has coordinates

(2, 7) and M has coordinates (6, 1). Find
the coordinates of Y.
Step 1 Let the coordinates of Y equal (x,
y).
Step 2 Use the Midpoint Formula:
Example 3 Continued

Step 3 Find the x-coordinate.

Set the coordinates equal.

Multiply both sides by 2.

12 = 2 + x Simplify. 2=7+y
– 2 –2 Subtract. – 7 –7
10 = x Simplify. –5 = y

The coordinates of Y are (10, –5).

The Distance Formula

The distance d between any two points with

the coordinates (x1,y1) and (x2,y2) is given by
2 2
d  ( x2  x1 )  ( y2  y1 )

A (x1,y1)

B (x2,y2)
The Distance Formula

You can use the Pythagorean

Theorem to find the distance
between two points in a coordinate
plane.
The Distance Formula

In a right triangle, the two sides that

form the right angle are the legs. The
side across from the right angle that
stretches from one leg to the other is
the hypotenuse. In the diagram, a and
b are the lengths of the shorter sides, or
legs, of the right triangle. The longest
side is called the hypotenuse and has
length c.
Example 1: Finding Distances in the Coordinate Plane

Use the Distance Formula and the

Pythagorean Theorem to find the distance, to
the nearest tenth, from D(3, 4) to E(–2, –5).
Example 4 Continued

Method 1
Use the Distance Formula. Substitute the
values for the coordinates of D and E into the
Distance Formula.
Example 4 Continued

Method 2
Use the Pythagorean Theorem. Count the
units for sides a and b.
a = 5 and b = 9.
c2 = a2 + b2
= 52 + 92
= 25 + 81
= 106

c = 10.3
Example 2

Find the distance between A(4,8) and B(1,12)

A (4, 8) B (1, 12)

2 2
distance  ( x2  x1 )  ( y2  y1 )
2 2
distance  (1  4)  (12  8)
2 2
distance  ( 3)  (4)
distance  9  16  25  5
Distance Between Two Points

Find the distance between the points at (2,3)

and (-4,6)
2 2
d  ( x2  x1 )  ( y2  y1 )
2 2
 (4  2)  (6  3)
Now just type this into your calculator!

Round your
answer
6.71
A Linear Equation in Two Variables

A linear equation in two variables can be

written in the form
Ax + By = C,
where A, B, and C are real numbers (A and B
not both 0). This form is
called standard form.
Intercepts

y-intercept (where the line intersects

the y-axis)

x-intercept (where the

line intersects
the x-axis)
x
Finding Intercepts

When graphing the equation of a line,

let y = 0 to find the x-intercept;

let x = 0 to find the y-intercept.
 Finding Intercepts

Find the x- and y-intercepts of 2x – y = 6, and

graph the equation.
We find the x-intercept We find the y-intercept
by letting y = 0. by letting x = 0.

2x – y = 6 2x – y = 6
2x – 0 = 6 Let y = 0. 2(0) – y = 6 Let x = 0.
2x = 6 –y = 6
x=3 x-intercept is (3, 0). y = –6 y-intercept is (0, –6).

The intercepts are the two points (3,0) and (0, –6).
Finding Intercepts
Find the x- and y-intercepts of 2x – y = 6, and graph the equation.
The intercepts are the two points (3,0) and (0, –6). We show these ordered
pairs in the table next to the figure below and use these points to draw the
graph.

x y

3 0

0 –6
Graphing a Horizontal Line
Graph y = –3.
Since y is always –3, there is no value of x corresponding to y = 0, so
the graph has no x-intercept. The y-intercept is (0, –3). The graph in
the figure below, shown with a table of ordered pairs, is a horizontal
line.

x y

2 –3

0 –3

–2 –3
Graphing a Vertical Line
Graph x + 2 = 5.
The x-intercept is (3, 0). The standard form 1x + 0y = 3 shows that every
value of y leads to x = 3, so no value of y makes x = 0. The only way a
straight line can have no y-intercept is if it is vertical, as in the figure below.

x y

3 2

3 0

3 –2
CAUTION!
To avoid confusing equations of horizontal
and vertical lines remember that:

1. An equation with only the variable x will

always intersect the
x-axis and thus will be vertical.
2. An equation with only the variable y will
always intersect the
y-axis and thus will be horizontal.
CARTESIAN PLANE/COORDINATE SYSTEM

Three-Dimensional
Coordinate Systems

In this section, we will learn about:

Aspects of three-dimensional coordinate systems.
TWO-DIMENSIONAL (2-D) COORDINATE SYSTEMS

To locate a point in a plane, two numbers

are necessary.

 We know that any point in the plane can be represented

as an ordered pair (a, b) of real numbers—where a is
the x-coordinate and b is the y-coordinate.

 For this reason, a plane is called two-dimensional.

THREE-DIMENSIONAL (3-D) COORDINATE SYSTEMS

To locate a point in space, three

numbers are required.

 We represent any point in space by

an ordered triple (a, b, c) of real numbers.
3-D COORDINATE SYSTEMS

In order to represent points in space,

we first choose:

 A fixed point O (the origin)

 Three directed lines through O that are

perpendicular to each other
COORDINATE AXES

The three lines are called the coordinate

axes.
They are labeled:

 x-axis
 y-axis
 z-axis
COORDINATE AXES

Usually, we think of:

 The x- and y-axes as being horizontal

 The z-axis as being vertical

COORDINATE AXES

We draw the orientation of the axes

as shown.
COORDINATE AXES

The direction of the z-axis is

determined by the right-hand rule,
illustrated as follows.
COORDINATE AXES

Curl the fingers of your right hand

around the z-axis in the direction of a 90°
counterclockwise rotation from the positive
x-axis to the positive y-axis.

 Then, your thumb

points in the positive
direction of the z-axis.
COORDINATE PLANES

The three coordinate axes determine

the three coordinate planes.
 The xy-plane contains
the x- and y-axes.
 The yz-plane contains
the y- and z-axes.
 The xz-plane contains
the x- and z-axes.
OCTANTS

These three coordinate planes divide

space into eight parts, called octants.

 The first octant,

in the foreground,
is determined by
the positive axes.
3-D COORDINATE SYSTEMS

Many people have some difficulty

visualizing diagrams of 3-D figures.

Thus, you may find it helpful to do

the following.
3-D COORDINATE SYSTEMS

Look at any bottom corner of a room

and call the corner the origin.
3-D COORDINATE SYSTEMS

The wall on your left is in the xz-plane.

The wall on your right is in the yz-plane.
The floor is in the xy-plane.
3-D COORDINATE SYSTEMS

The x-axis runs along the intersection

of the floor and the left wall.
The y-axis runs along that of the floor
and the right wall.
3-D COORDINATE SYSTEMS

The z-axis runs up from the floor toward

the ceiling along the intersection of the two
walls.
3-D COORDINATE SYSTEMS

You are situated in the first octant.

You can now imagine seven other rooms
situated in the other seven octants.

 There are three on

the same floor and
four on the floor below.
 They are all connected
by the common corner
point O.
3-D COORDINATE SYSTEMS

Now, if P is any point in space,

let:

 a be the (directed) distance from the yz-plane to P.

 b be the distance from the xz-plane to P.

 c be the distance from the xy-plane to P.

3-D COORDINATE SYSTEMS

We represent the point P by the ordered

triple of real numbers (a, b, c).

We call a, b, and c the coordinates of P.

 a is the x-coordinate.
 b is the y-coordinate.
 c is the z-coordinate.
3-D COORDINATE SYSTEMS

Thus, to locate the point (a, b, c), we can start

at the origin O and proceed as follows:

 First, move a units along the x-axis.

 Then, move b units

parallel to the y-axis.

 Finally, move c units

parallel to the z-axis.
3-D COORDINATE SYSTEMS

The point P(a, b, c) determines a

rectangular box.
PROJECTIONS

If we drop a perpendicular from P to

the xy-plane, we get a point Q with
coordinates (a, b, 0).

 This is called
the projection of P
on the xy-plane.
PROJECTIONS

Similarly, R(0, b, c) and S(a, 0, c) are

the projections of P on the yz-plane and
xz-plane, respectively.
3-D COORDINATE SYSTEMS

As numerical illustrations, the points

(–4, 3, –5) and (3, –2, –6) are plotted here.
Drawing z z = constant
Practice:
(0, 0, z) (0, y, z)

P(x, y, z)
(x, 0, z)
(0, y, 0)
y

(x, 0, 0) y = constant
(x, y, 0)
x x = constant