Abscissa and ordinate

High school (ages 12+)
Mathematics & Numbers

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/abscissa-and-ordinate

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the originator of analytic geometry?René Descartes is credited with developing the Cartesian coordinate system
2. What is an abscissa and an ordinate?The abscissa is the horizontal value on the X-axis, and the ordinate is the vertical value on the Y-axis. Together they make an ordered pair (x, y) that tells exactly where a point is on a map.
3. Why did René Descartes create the Cartesian plane?He wanted to combine algebra and geometry so that shapes could be written as equations and equations could show shapes. This made math easier and helped create calculus.

Analytic Geometry: The study of geometry using algebraic methods and coordinate systems.
Cartesian Plane: A two-dimensional plane defined by two perpendicular axes (X and Y) used for plotting points.
Applicate: The third coordinate in a three-dimensional Cartesian system, typically denoted as 'z'.