ORTHOGONAL COORDINATE SYSTEM

Definition An <ORTHOGONAL COORDINATE SYSTEM> is a <FunctionalMapping> that is defined by an ordered pair of perpendicular lines (axes), a single unit of length for both axes, and an orientation for each axis. The point where the axes meet is taken as the origin for both, thus turning each axis into a number line. For any point P, a line is drawn through P perpendicular to each axis, and the position where it meets the axis is interpreted as a number. The two numbers, in that chosen order, are the Cartesian coordinates of P