Abscissa: meaning, definitions and examples
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abscissa
[ รฆbหsษชsษ ]
mathematics coordinate
The abscissa is the horizontal coordinate in a two-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system. It represents the distance from the vertical axis, usually denoted as the x-axis. In this system, each point can be defined by an ordered pair of numbers, where the first number is the abscissa. The abscissa is essential in graphing functions and linear equations, allowing for the visualization of data points and their relationships. Understanding the abscissa is crucial for algebra, calculus, and other branches of mathematics.
Synonyms
axis value, horizontal coordinate, x-coordinate
Examples of usage
- The point (3, 4) has an abscissa of 3.
- In the graph, the abscissa shows how far each point is from the y-axis.
- To locate the coordinates on the graph, start with the abscissa, then find the ordinate.
Translations
Translations of the word "abscissa" in other languages:
๐ต๐น abscissa
๐ฎ๐ณ เค เคญเคฟเคฒเคฎเฅเคฌ
๐ฉ๐ช Abszisse
๐ฎ๐ฉ absis
๐บ๐ฆ ะฐะฑััะธัะฐ
๐ต๐ฑ abscysa
๐ฏ๐ต ๆจช่ปธ
๐ซ๐ท abscisse
๐ช๐ธ abscisa
๐น๐ท abscissa
๐ฐ๐ท ๊ฐ๋ก์ถ
๐ธ๐ฆ ุงูุฃุจุณูุต
๐จ๐ฟ abscisa
๐ธ๐ฐ abscisa
๐จ๐ณ ๆจชๅๆ
๐ธ๐ฎ abscisa
๐ฎ๐ธ abscissa
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะฐะฑััะธััะฐ
๐ฌ๐ช แแแกแชแแกแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ abscissa
๐ฒ๐ฝ abscisa
Etymology
The term 'abscissa' originates from the Latin word 'abscissa', which means 'cut off'. This etymology is derived from 'abscindere', meaning 'to cut off' or 'to sever'. The word was first used in the context of geometry and mathematics in the 17th century. It was established to denote the horizontal distance of a point from a given vertical reference, which is a foundational concept in the Cartesian coordinate system. The use of 'abscissa' became prevalent with the development of analytic geometry by Renรฉ Descartes in the 1630s. Today, it is a standard term in mathematics, particularly in discussions about graphs and coordinate systems, highlighting its long-standing importance in those fields.