A coordinate system is a method by which a set of numbers is used to locate the position of a point. the numbers are called the points coordinates. in a coordinate system, a single point corresponds to each set of coordinates. coordinate systems are used in analytic geometry to study properties of geometric objects with algebraic techniques.

when an object having a finite number of degrees of freedom is considered among all the objects of that kind, the object in question can be conveniently characterized and distinguished from the other objects by a set of coordinatesthat is, a set of numbers, one for each degree of freedom. for example, a point in a plane has two degrees of freedom, so that the point has two coordinates with respect to any coordinate system of the plane.

there are many different coordinate systems. usually the geometry and symmetry of a problem will suggest an appropriate coordinate system. common coordinate systems are cartesian after ren d...