Cartesian coordinate system in real-life
« Coordinate systems are different ways of describing a space.[1]” There are a few of them, for instance, the Cartesian coordinate system, spherical coordinate system, or polar plane coordinates.
We will focus on the Cartesian coordinates and understand how it works. It consists of determining the positions of points in a plane surface (it can be in two dimensions or three dimensions) through two numbers called coordinates x and y.
Those numbers are defined in three dimensions, the x-axis (or the abscise), the y-axis (or the ordinate) perpendicular to x, and the third one is the z-axis which is perpendicular to both x and y. The z-axis is added to provide a third dimension of space measurement.
This system was developed by René Descartes, a French philosopher and mathematician, in 1637. His work influenced the analytic development of geometry, calculus, and cartography. His work was considered as a revolution for the Mathematics because it allowed to link algebra with geometry.
What about real-life usage?
The most asked questions during Mathematics class by students are, will I ever use it in my everyday life? Why would/do we learn how to define the position of a point on a plane surface.
The answer is pretty straightforward. Coordinate systems might be the most used mathematics that we learn at school and that we use or see it almost every day. It is constantly around us; it is so implemented in our life that we do not even notice it anymore.
The Cartesian coordinate system is not complex or complicated; even the system’s invention did not come after years of work or thinking. Descartes invented it while he was lying on his bed and saw a fly on the ceiling. He tried to find the exact position of the fly and imagined his ceiling as a rectangle, and by measuring the distance that needs to be covered in the horizontal direction and vertical direction, he could describe the exact position of the fly.
Here are some examples of the usage of the Cartesian coordinate system in real-life
-When we give some road instructions to someone, take the second to the right and then the first to the left; this is precisely what the coordinate system is. This works better in New York. The city uses numbers instead of names for the addressing system. Since most of the streets are perpendicular to each other, it is easier to see the city plan as a whole cartesian coordinate system.
- In any grid-based game, to describe the players’ moves, the coordinate system is used. The most common is the chess notation.
- In the spatial organization of a restaurant, the tables are placed and named by using coordinates. It is also used in cinemas and football stadiums; the coordinates make it easier to find the place that you are assigned to.
- I, also as an architecture student, am familiar with the Cartesian coordinates system. When I use programs like Autocad, I use coordinates to place and move objects around when I’m drawing my plans. I just have to enter the coordinates, and it is done.
As a mathematician and philosopher, René Descartes produced many works, even though he died at a young age (53). But, his most recognizable work must be the simplest but yet the most effective. Even though several centuries have passed, the Cartesian coordinates system is still employed today, and still in the same way it was when he first invented it. No modifications have been brought to his system.
REFERENCES:
- https://wild.maths.org/rené-descartes-and-fly-ceiling
- https://sciencing.com/use-coordinate-plane-real-life-8743000.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartesian_coordinate_system
- https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-real-world-applications-of-coordinate-geometry
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/René_Descartes
[1] https://sciencing.com/use-coordinate-plane-real-life-8743000.html
