¶ Two-Way Rectilinear Grid
← Two-way | Two-way Grid: Two-way Rectilinear Grid →
Index Entry
To the Greeks a two-way rectilinearly intersecting grid of parallel lines seemed simpler than would a three-way grid of parallel lines. And the two-way grid was highly compatible with their practical coordinate needs for dealing with an assumedly flat plane Universe. Thus the Greeks came to employ 90-degreerness and unique perpendicularity to the system as a basic additional dimensional requirement for the exclusive, and consequently unchallenged, three-dimensional geometrical data coordination.
Their arithmetical operations were coordinated with geometry on the assumption that first-power numbers represented linear module tallies, that second-power N² = square increments, and that third-power N³ = cubical increments of space. First dimension was length expressed with one line. Two dimensions introduced width expressed with a cross of two lines in a plane. Three dimensions introduced height expressed by a third line crossing perpendicularly to the first two at their previous crossing, making a three-way, three-dimensional cross, which they referred to as the XYZ coordinate system.
