The number of variables necessary to describe the position in space. For a two dimensional space, we need two variables to describe position. We can use the cartesian system of coordinates, using the
and
variables, or we can use the polar coordinates, which are an angle
and the radius
.
The cartesian and polar coordinate systems are related to each other according to the equations
if the origin of both coordinate system is the same. For three dimensional space, examples of coordinate systems are the cartesian, the cylindrical and the spherical coordinate systems.
Cartesian coordinate system.
Cylindrical
coordinate system.
Spherical
coordinate system.