The Cartesian coordinate system

The Cartesian coordinate system is a way to locate points in space using two or more numbers, called coordinates. In two dimensions, it consists of two perpendicular lines: the horizontal x-axis and the vertical y-axis. Each point is identified by an ordered pair (x, y), where x tells you how far left or right the point is, and y indicates how far up or down. This system helps us precisely specify locations on a flat surface, like on a map or a graph, and is fundamental in fields like mathematics, engineering, and science.