Abscissa

In mathematics, abscissa or abscissae refers to the first element of an ordered pair.

It is the first of the two terms 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.

Examples

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

See also

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

References

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