The word coordinate is used to refer to a point where two lines meet, which can mark the exact location of that point. As it is considered in geometry that infinite lines pass through each point, the union of two of them at a specific point allows us to get closer to a clearer definition. The coordinate is a very important element of mathematical sciences as well as other sciences that can use it as an auxiliary (for example, the clearest case is that of geography that uses the idea of coordinate to locate specific places and territories in the Map).
To establish the existence of one or more coordinates, it is necessary to create a table that joins two different types of lines: horizontal lines and vertical lines. That point at which two of these lines meet will be the point where we locate our coordinate. Usually, we talk about coordinates in planes such as a map, but they can also appear in three-dimensional images since the union of the lines continues to exist. When we talk about two-dimensional planes, the horizontal lines will be located in the x space while the vertical lines will be located in the y space. In three dimensions, the z dimension is added that crosses the previous two.
There are many different types of coordinates that can be more or less specific depending on how they are constructed and marked. Also, each of these types will serve different uses. The traditional or most common coordinates are the Cartesian ones, those that are assembled from the existence of Cartesian axes that intersect each other. Then there are the polar coordinates, the cylindrical, the curvilinear and the octagonal curvilinear, the spherical, and finally, the most well-known by the common people, the geographical coordinates. Each type presents different possibilities that allow them to be used in fields that best serve their objective of specifically marking a space or place. Some of these types of coordinates are actually very complex and are only known to scientists in the specific fields of knowledge in which they are used.
