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Math 101
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Intermediate Algebra |
   
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The Cartesian Coordinate System
Chapter 3, Section 1
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Cartesian Coordinates--Overview
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- Locate points in 2-D by specifying where the point is relative to the Origin.
- Any point may be specified by an ordered pair (described below).
- The horizontal line labeled "x" is the x-axis.
- The vertical line labeled "y" is the y-axis.
- Quadrants are regions of the plane relative to the origin.
- Quadrant I: x > 0 and y > 0
- Quadrant II: x < 0 and y > 0
- Quadrant III: x < 0 and y < 0
- Quadrant IV: x > 0 and y < 0
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Ordered Pairs (x, y)
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- Any point in 2-D may be located by an ordered pair (x, y).
- The x-coordinate, x, is the value on the x-axis vertically above or below the point.
- The y-coordinate, y, is the value on the y-axis horizontally right or left of the point.
- The order is that the x-coordinate is listed first and the y-coordinate is listed second.
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Distance Formula
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The distance formula gives the distance, d, between 2 given points
(x1, y1)
and (x2, y2).
Distance is always non-negative.
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Midpoint Formula
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The midpoint formula gives an ordered pair that is the point halfway between 2 given points
(x1, y1)
and (x2, y2).
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