Cartesian equation

Definition

A Cartesian equation is an equation that relates variables using algebraic expressions and coordinates on a Cartesian plane.

Analogy

Think of a Cartesian equation as a recipe that tells you how to combine different ingredients (variables) to create a delicious dish (equation). Just like following the steps in a recipe, you follow the algebraic expressions in a Cartesian equation to find the relationship between variables.

Related terms

Slope-intercept form: An equation of a line written as y = mx + b, where m represents the slope and b represents the y-intercept.

Parametric equations: Equations that express variables x and y separately as functions of another variable, often denoted by t.

Polar coordinates: A coordinate system where each point is determined by its distance from the origin (magnitude) and its angle from the positive x-axis.