# 2.1 The rectangular coordinate systems and graphs

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In this section you will:
• Plot ordered pairs in a Cartesian coordinate system.
• Graph equations by plotting points.
• Graph equations with a graphing utility.
• Find $x$ -intercepts and $y$ -intercepts.
• Use the distance formula.
• Use the midpoint formula.

Tracie set out from Elmhurst, IL, to go to Franklin Park. On the way, she made a few stops to do errands. Each stop is indicated by a red dot in [link] . Laying a rectangular coordinate grid over the map, we can see that each stop aligns with an intersection of grid lines. In this section, we will learn how to use grid lines to describe locations and changes in locations.

## Plotting ordered pairs in the cartesian coordinate system

An old story describes how seventeenth-century philosopher/mathematician René Descartes invented the system that has become the foundation of algebra while sick in bed. According to the story, Descartes was staring at a fly crawling on the ceiling when he realized that he could describe the fly’s location in relation to the perpendicular lines formed by the adjacent walls of his room. He viewed the perpendicular lines as horizontal and vertical axes. Further, by dividing each axis into equal unit lengths, Descartes saw that it was possible to locate any object in a two-dimensional plane using just two numbers—the displacement from the horizontal axis and the displacement from the vertical axis.

While there is evidence that ideas similar to Descartes’ grid system existed centuries earlier, it was Descartes who introduced the components that comprise the Cartesian coordinate system    , a grid system having perpendicular axes. Descartes named the horizontal axis the x- axis and the vertical axis the y- axis .

The Cartesian coordinate system, also called the rectangular coordinate system, is based on a two-dimensional plane consisting of the x -axis and the y -axis. Perpendicular to each other, the axes divide the plane into four sections. Each section is called a quadrant    ; the quadrants are numbered counterclockwise as shown in [link]

The center of the plane is the point at which the two axes cross. It is known as the origin    , or point $\left(0,0\right).$ From the origin, each axis is further divided into equal units: increasing, positive numbers to the right on the x- axis and up the y- axis; decreasing, negative numbers to the left on the x- axis and down the y- axis. The axes extend to positive and negative infinity as shown by the arrowheads in [link] .

Each point in the plane is identified by its x- coordinate    , or horizontal displacement from the origin, and its y- coordinate    , or vertical displacement from the origin. Together, we write them as an ordered pair    indicating the combined distance from the origin in the form $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\left(x,y\right).\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ An ordered pair is also known as a coordinate pair because it consists of x- and y -coordinates. For example, we can represent the point $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\left(3,-1\right)\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ in the plane by moving three units to the right of the origin in the horizontal direction, and one unit down in the vertical direction. See [link] .

When dividing the axes into equally spaced increments, note that the x- axis may be considered separately from the y- axis. In other words, while the x- axis may be divided and labeled according to consecutive integers, the y- axis may be divided and labeled by increments of 2, or 10, or 100. In fact, the axes may represent other units, such as years against the balance in a savings account, or quantity against cost, and so on. Consider the rectangular coordinate system primarily as a method for showing the relationship between two quantities.

if theta =30degree so COS2 theta = 1- 10 square theta upon 1 + tan squared theta
how to compute this 1. g(1-x) 2. f(x-2) 3. g (-x-/5) 4. f (x)- g (x)
hi
John
hi
Grace
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John
not much For functions, there are two conditions for a function to be the inverse function:   1--- g(f(x)) = x for all x in the domain of f     2---f(g(x)) = x for all x in the domain of g Notice in both cases you will get back to the  element that you started with, namely, x.
Grace
sin theta=3/4.prove that sec square theta barabar 1 + tan square theta by cosec square theta minus cos square theta
acha se dhek ke bata sin theta ke value
Ajay
sin theta ke ja gha sin square theta hoga
Ajay
I want to know trigonometry but I can't understand it anyone who can help
Yh
Idowu
which part of trig?
Nyemba
functions
Siyabonga
trigonometry
Ganapathi
differentiation doubhts
Ganapathi
hi
Ganapathi
hello
Brittany
Prove that 4sin50-3tan 50=1
f(x)= 1 x    f(x)=1x  is shifted down 4 units and to the right 3 units.
f (x) = −3x + 5 and g (x) = x − 5 /−3
Sebit
what are real numbers
I want to know partial fraction Decomposition.
classes of function in mathematics
divide y2_8y2+5y2/y2
wish i knew calculus to understand what's going on 🙂
@dashawn ... in simple terms, a derivative is the tangent line of the function. which gives the rate of change at that instant. to calculate. given f(x)==ax^n. then f'(x)=n*ax^n-1 . hope that help.
Christopher
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Dashawn
maybe when i start calculus in a few months i won't be that lost 😎
Dashawn
what's the derivative of 4x^6
24x^5
James
10x
Axmed
24X^5
Taieb
secA+tanA=2√5,sinA=?
tan2a+tan2a=√3
Rahulkumar
classes of function
Yazidu
if sinx°=sin@, then @ is - ?
the value of tan15°•tan20°•tan70°•tan75° -
NAVJIT