ordinants

An ordinant is a term used in geometry and surveying. It refers to a line or a plane that is perpendicular to a given line or plane. The concept is fundamental to establishing coordinate systems and understanding spatial relationships. In a Cartesian coordinate system, the axes are ordinants to each other. For example, the y-axis is an ordinant to the x-axis, and vice versa, at their point of intersection.

The term "ordinant" is closely related to the concept of orthogonality, which means forming right angles. When two lines are ordinant, they intersect at a 90-degree angle. Similarly, if a line and a plane are ordinant, the line is perpendicular to the plane, meaning it forms a right angle with every line in the plane that passes through the point of intersection.

In surveying, ordinants are crucial for accurate measurements. For instance, when establishing a baseline, subsequent measurements are often taken perpendicular to that baseline to define positions relative to it. These perpendicular measurements are referred to as ordinants. The precision of these ordinants directly impacts the accuracy of maps and land divisions. The term is less commonly used in everyday language but remains a technical term in specialized fields.