A system for specifying points using coordinates measured in some specified way. The simplest coordinate system consists of coordinate axes oriented perpendicularly to each other, known as Cartesian coordinates. Depending on the type of problem under consideration, coordinate systems possessing special properties may allow particularly simple solution.
|
|
In three dimensions, so-called right-handed coordinate systems (left figure) are usually chosen by convention, although left-handed coordinate systems (right figure) are also encountered occasionally.
