Understanding Rays in Mathematics | Definition, Naming, and Applications

Ray

In mathematics, a ray refers to a part of a line that has one endpoint and extends infinitely in only one direction

In mathematics, a ray refers to a part of a line that has one endpoint and extends infinitely in only one direction. It can be thought of as a line with one endpoint that goes on forever in one direction. A ray is named by its endpoint and any other point on the ray.

To illustrate this, imagine a line segment AB. If we extend this line segment infinitely in one direction starting from point A, we would have a ray. The endpoint A is fixed and does not move, while the other end continues indefinitely in a specific direction represented by an arrowhead.

A ray is often denoted using two points, with the endpoint being written first, followed by any other point on the ray. For example, if we have a ray that starts at point P and extends indefinitely in the direction of point Q, we can denote it as ray PQ.

In geometric diagrams, rays are often used to represent paths of light or other objects extending indefinitely in one direction. They are also frequently used in geometric proofs and constructions to illustrate specific directions or angles.

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