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📏 Geometry
Coordinate Geometry
Descartes' 1637 synthesis of algebra and geometry using Cartesian coordinates (x, y)
France 🇫🇷 1637 Geometry
Key Facts
- 1
Cartesian plane (x, y): René Descartes (1637); "Cartesian" named after his Latin name "Cartesius"
- 2
Distance formula: d = √[(x₂-x₁)² + (y₂-y₁)²]; Midpoint: ((x₁+x₂)/2, (y₁+y₂)/2)
- 3
Circle: (x-h)² + (y-k)² = r²; Line: ax + by + c = 0; Parabola: y = ax² + bx + c
🔢 Did you know? Descartes invented coordinate geometry while lying in bed watching a fly — he wanted to describe its position on the ceiling using two numbers
Quick Reference
Category
Geometry
Country
🇫🇷 France
Year / Era
1637
About
Descartes' 1637 synthesis of algebra and geometry using Cartesian coordinates (x, y)