line segment
A line segment is a part of a line that is bounded by two distinct endpoints
A line segment is a part of a line that is bounded by two distinct endpoints. It is a finite length portion of a straight line. The endpoints are points on the line that mark the beginning and end of the segment. The line segment can be straight or curved, but it does not extend beyond the endpoints.
To understand line segments, it is important to remember a few key terms:
1. Point: A point represents a specific location in space and has no size or dimension. It is usually represented by a dot.
2. Line: A line is a straight path that extends infinitely in both directions. It has no endpoints and is one-dimensional.
3. Ray: A ray is a part of a line that has one endpoint and extends indefinitely in one direction. It is also one-dimensional.
4. Line Segment: A line segment is a part of a line that has two distinct endpoints and has a finite length. It is also one-dimensional.
To determine the length of a line segment, you can use the distance formula, which is derived from the Pythagorean theorem. The formula to find the distance between two points (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) is:
Distance = sqrt((x2 – x1)^2 + (y2 – y1)^2)
Let’s say we have two points A(2, 3) and B(5, 7). To find the length of the line segment AB, we can substitute the coordinates into the distance formula:
Distance = sqrt((5 – 2)^2 + (7 – 3)^2)
= sqrt(3^2 + 4^2)
= sqrt(9 + 16)
= sqrt(25)
= 5
Therefore, the length of line segment AB is 5 units.
Line segments are used in various mathematical concepts, such as geometry, coordinate systems, and graphing. They help define shapes, measure distances, and understand geometric properties.
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