Coordinate
Systems
Coordinate systems are used to describe the position of an object in space.
A coordinate system is an artificial mathematical tool that we construct in
order to describe the position of a real object.
Coordinates Systems could be:
➢ 1-D Coordinate Systems
➢ 2-D Coordinate Systems
➢ 3-D Coordinate Systems
The easiest coordinate system to construct is one that we can use to describe
the location of objects in one dimensional space.
For example, we may wish to describe the location of a train along a straight
section of track that runs in a given direction e.g. the East-West direction.
In order to do so, we must first define an “origin”, which is the reference point
of our coordinate system.
For example, the origin for our train track may be the Harrappa train station.
For example, the origin for our train track may be the Harrappa train station.
➢ We can describe the position of the train by specifying how far it is from the station
(the origin), using a single real number, say x.
➢ If the train is at position x = 0, then we know that it is at the Kingston station.
➢ If the object is not at the origin, then we need to be able to specify on which side
(East or West in our train example) of the origin the object is located.
➢ We do this by choosing a direction for our one dimensional coordinate x.
For example, we may choose that the East side of the track corresponds to positive values
of x and that the West side of the track correspond to the negative values of x.
Thus, in order to fully specify a one-dimensional coordinate system we need to choose:
➢ the location of the origin.
➢ the direction in which the coordinate, x, increases.
➢ the units in which we wish to express x.
➢ In one dimension, it is common to use the variable x to define the position
along the “x-axis”.
➢ The x-axis is our coordinate system in one dimension, and we represent it
by drawing a line with an arrow in the direction of increasing x and
indicate where the origin is located.
➢ To describe the position of an object in two
dimensions (e.g. a marble rolling on a table),
we need to specify two numbers.
➢ The easiest way to do this is to define two
axes, x and y, whose origin and direction we
must define.
➢ Figure shows an example of such a coordinate
system.
➢ We chose x and y axes that are perpendicular to
each other.
➢ The origin of the coordinate system is where the
two axes intersect.
➢ Choosing axes that are perpendicular (a
“Cartesian” coordinate system) is usually the most
commonly used.
➢ To fully describe the position of an object, we must specify both its
position along the x and y axes.
➢ For example, point P in Figure has two coordinates, xp and yp, that
define its position.
➢ The x coordinate is found by drawing a line through P that is
parallel to the y-axis and is given by the intersection of that line
with the x-axis.
➢ The y coordinate is found by drawing a line through point P that is
parallel to the x-axis and is given by the intersection of that line
with the y-axis.
➢ Another common choice is a “polar” coordinate system.
➢ The position of an object is specified by a distance to
the origin, r, and an angle, θ, relative to a specified
direction, as shown in Figure.
➢ Often, a polar coordinate system is defined alongside a
Cartesian system, so that r is the distance to the origin
of the Cartesian system and θ is the angle with respect
to the x-axis.
➢ In three dimensions, we need to specify three numbers to describe the position of an object
(e.g. a bird flying in the air).
➢ In a three dimensional Cartesian coordinate system, we simply add a third axis, z, that is
mutually perpendicular to both x and y.
➢ The position of an object can then be specified by using the three coordinates, x, y, and z.
➢ By convention, we use the z-axis to be the vertical direction in three dimensions.
Two common types of coordinate
systems
1. Rectangular/Cartesian Coordinate System
2. Polar Coordinate System
What are the coordinates of points A and B ?
Any point on this coordinate system can be
found by first moving along the number line
at 0° by the desired amount, and then
performing a circular rotation. In essence, the
two coordinates are a radius r, and angle θ.
This is written as (r, θ).
Let's take point A as an example.
To reach point A:
➢ move along the number line 3 units, and
➢ then make a rotation through 30o.
We could, therefore, say that the polar coordinates
of point A are (3,30°).
What are the polar coordinates of
points B and C in the polar
coordinate system?
Taking point B:
➢ it can be reached by moving 3 units along
the number line at 0°, and
➢ then rotating an angular distance of 90°.
Therefore, the polar coordinates of point B
are (3,90°).
Taking point C:
➢ it can be reached by moving 2 units along
the number line at 0°, and
➢ then rotating an angular distance of 240°.
Therefore, the polar coordinates of point B
are (2,240°).
How do we convert between coordinates in cartesian and polar
coordinate systems though?
Converting between the two coordinate systems is simple if we
employ some of our knowledge of trigonometry.
Consider the following right-angled
triangle in the cartesian coordinate
plane.
On this triangle, point A's cartesian and
polar coordinates have been marked.
➢ Cartesian (x, y) and
➢ Polar (r, θ).
Using simple trigonometry, we can note
the following equations to be true:
These equations allow us to convert from polar
coordinates to cartesian coordinates.
Considering Pythagoras theorem, we can find
the following equation for r.
Finding angular position, θ, is then a simple
case of employing trigonometry.
OR
OR
➢ Absolute coordinates refers to a Cartesian System A
that uses x-axis, y-axis, and sometimes a z-axis to
establish a point some distance from origin.
➢ For example, the picture's origin point is '0,0' and
the absolute coordinate of point A, from origin is
'8,7' making it 8 along the x-axis and 7 along the
y-axis.
➢ Relative coordinates are locations defined by distance from a reference point
rather than an absolute address or Origin.
➢ For example, an office space may be at 123 Fake Lane. However, its relative
coordinates could be two blocks East of the State Bank building or three
Kilometers south of Governor house.
➢ Relative coordinates are used in mathematics, engineering, and computer
graphics to simplify calculations and express positions or movements more
intuitively.
➢ They are especially useful when dealing with transformations, translations,
and other operations that involve moving or modifying objects in a
coordinate system.
B
➢ Using the two-dimensional Cartesian system, a
point can be described by specifying how far it
is from another point in terms of horizontal (x-
A
axis) and vertical (y-axis) distances.
➢ For example, to describe the position of point
"B" to point "A“ with absolute coordinates (2,5).
➢ You might say it's four units to the right and
five units up.
➢ In this case, the relative coordinates of point
"B" from "A" would be (6,10).
➢ Coordinate systems are used to locate the position of a point in
the plane.
➢ In two-dimensional coordinate systems, each point is represented
by two integers.
➢ Two common coordinate systems are Cartesian and polar
coordinate systems.
➢ We can convert between polar and cartesian coordinate systems
using a mixture of trigonometry and Pythagoras' theorem.
