What is the term used to describe a system specifying distances of a point from coordinate axes on a graph?

The term that specifies distances of a point from coordinate axes on a graph is known as Cartesian coordinates. This system uses two or three perpendicular axes (usually referred to as the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis in three dimensions) to express the location of points in space. Each point is represented by an ordered pair or triplet of numbers, which correspond to the distances from these axes.

In a two-dimensional Cartesian system, for example, a point is represented as (x, y), where 'x' indicates the horizontal distance from the y-axis, and 'y' indicates the vertical distance from the x-axis. In three dimensions, a point is represented as (x, y, z), where 'z' indicates the distance from the xy-plane. The Cartesian coordinate system is fundamental in mathematics and engineering because it provides a straightforward way to describe geometric shapes, analyze functions, and solve equations.

Other coordinate systems such as polar, cylindrical, and spherical coordinates have their specific applications and methodologies for defining points in space but rely on different principles than the Cartesian system. For instance, polar coordinates are used in a two-dimensional setting where a point's location is determined by a angle and a radius, while cylindrical and spherical coordinates extend this concept into three