Coordinates help you find a specific spot by giving you directions to move along two different lines or paths, like finding a point on a map or a grid.
Understanding the Basics of Coordinates
Think of using coordinates like following instructions to reach a destination. You typically need two pieces of information to pinpoint a location accurately. These two pieces of information represent movement or position along two distinct directions or axes.
Most coordinate systems use a starting point or an origin. From this origin, you move a certain distance or value in one direction, and then a certain distance or value in a second, often perpendicular, direction. The place where these movements meet is the location defined by the coordinates.
Using Directions as Coordinates: An Example
As shown in the reference, one way to use coordinates is by combining directional movements:
- Start from a known point: This could be a specific origin on a map or grid.
- Move in the first direction: For instance, move North a certain number of degrees or units. The reference mentions moving "30 degrees north that means going up."
- Move in the second direction: From that position, move West a certain number of degrees or units. The reference states "moving West that means going to the left."
- Find the meeting point: The location where your movement North and your movement West meet is the point defined by those coordinates. The reference specifically identifies where "they meet right here is 30 degrees north. And 90 degrees west." This means the location at 30° North, 90° West is found by going up 30 degrees and then left 90 degrees from a starting point.
This concept applies to various coordinate systems, whether it's finding a spot on Earth using latitude and longitude or plotting a point on a mathematical graph using (x, y) values.
Common Coordinate Systems
While the reference focuses on directional degrees (like North and West), coordinates are used in many contexts:
- Geographic Coordinates: Latitude and Longitude tell you a location's position on Earth. Latitude measures North or South of the equator, and Longitude measures East or West of the Prime Meridian.
- Cartesian Coordinates: Used in mathematics and graphing, these typically involve an X-axis (horizontal) and a Y-axis (vertical). A point is described as (x, y), indicating its distance from the origin along the X and Y axes.
- Grid References: Found on many maps, these use numbers and letters to divide a map into squares or grids, making it easier to locate specific areas.
Using coordinates simplifies navigating and locating specific points in space, whether that space is a simple grid, a geographical area, or a mathematical plane.
