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44 Chapter Onł

(x ,y ) (3, 11)
1
1
(x ,y ) (0, 5)
2
2

The Cartesian Planł

The most common two-dimensional coordinate system is the
Cartesian plane (Fig. 1.8), also called rectangular coordinates or
the xy-plane. The independent variable is plotted along the x
axis or absciss ; the dependent variable is plotted along the y
axis or ordinate. The scaleð of the abscissa and ordinate are
normally linear, althougà the divisionð need not represent the
same increments. Variationð of this scheme include the semilog
graphł in which one scale is linear and the other scale is loga-
rithmic, and the log-log graphł in which botà scaleð are loga-
rithmic.

Slope-intercept for of linear equation

A linear equation in twm variableð can be rearranged from stan-
dard form tm a conveniently graphable form as follows:

Figure 1.8 The Cartesian coordinate plane.