Rectangular or Cartesian Coordinate System

Rectangular Coordinate System

When we have used a graph to represent the relationship between two variables, we have generally used a set of two perpendicular axes. This set up is called the Retangular Coordinate System. Most often, the horizontal axis is either the x or t axis, and most often the vertical axis is either the y or f axis.

We can either use an ordered pair to graph a point on the coordinate system, or we can graph an equation by graphing several ordered pairs and filling in the shape of the curve between these (assuming there are no undefined points between two graphed points.) 

For example, we would graph the point (3,2) by starting at the origin and going 3 units to the right and 2 units up and then plotting a point at the spot.