Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A coordinate system is a reference framework used to locate points in space. It consists of an origin point and axes (usually x, y, and z) that are perpendicular to each other.
Related terms
Position Vector: A vector that represents the position of a point in a coordinate system.
Cartesian Coordinates: A type of coordinate system where positions are defined by their distances from two or three perpendicular axes.
Polar Coordinates: A type of coordinate system where positions are defined by their distance from an origin point and an angle from a reference direction.