Definition:Cartesian 3-Space/Orientation/Right-Handed

Definition


Consider a Cartesian $3$-Space.

Let the $x$-axis, $y$-axis and $z$-axis be defined.

Let a point $P$ be identified on the $x$-axis, different from $O$, with the coordinate pair $\tuple {1, 0}$ in the $x$-$y$ plane.

Let the point $P'$ be identified on the $y$-axis such that $OP' = OP$.

It remains to identify the point $P$ on the $z$-axis such that $OP = OP$.

The orientation of the $z$-axis is determined by the position of $P''$ relative to $O$.

The Cartesian $3$-Space is defined as right-handed when $P''$ is located as follows.

Imagine being positioned, standing on the $x$-$y$ plane at $O$, and facing along the $x$-axis towards $P$, with $P'$ on the left.

Then $P$ is then one unit above'' the $x$-$y$ plane.

Let the $x$-$y$ plane be identified with the plane of the page or screen.

The orientation of the $z$-axis is then:


 * coming vertically "out of" the page or screen from the origin, the numbers on the $z$-axis are positive
 * going vertically "into" the page or screen from the origin, the numbers on the $z$-axis are negative.