Research Article: Descartes and His Coordinate System

René Descartes built the foundation for modern philosophical method with a simple catchphrase: "I think, therefore I am." He is also regarded as the founder of analytic geometry.

Every time you graph an equation on a Cartesian coordinate system, you are using the work of René Descartes. Descartes, a French mathematician and philosopher, was born in La Haye, France (now named in his honor) on March 31, 1596. His parents taught him at home until he was 8 years old, when he entered the Jesuit college of La Flèche. There he continued his studies until he graduated at age 18.

Descartes was an outstanding student at La Flèche, especially in mathematics. Because...
(read more)