Abscissa

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In mathematics, abscissa (plural abscissae) refers to the first element of an ordered pair.

It is the first of the two terms (x, y) by which a point is referred to, in a system of fixed rectilinear coordinate (Cartesian coordinate) axes. The abscissa is also known as the "x" coordinate of a point. The second coordinate, or "y" coordinate, is called the ordinate.

[edit] Examples

• The point (12, -18) has an abscissa of 12.
• The point (-7, 3) has an abscissa of -7.

[edit] See also

• Cartesian conventions
• Ordinate
• Ordered pair
• Function
• Relation (mathematics)

[edit] References

This article was originally based on material from the Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, which is licensed under the GFDL.

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