What is a Line?
A line can stretch on both ends without any end. The ends of the line can go to infinity. It has no endpoints and no definite length unless it is structured by marking the two points. It is named by any two points on it, which is described as line AB or line PQ. Only a single line can be drawn between two points. A horizontal line goes left to right, and the vertical line goes up and down.
In our day-to-day life, we come across various shapes, for instance, a triangle, square, or any other shape as such. To structure these figures, we begin with a line segment or a curve. Depending on the arrangement and the number of lines, we get various types of shapes and figures. For instance, a square is a figure of 4-line segments; a pentagon has five-line segments. Now let us further learn about line segments and rays.
What is a Line Segment?
Before diving deep into the explanation of the Line segment, let us have a quick look at a point, and lines, because doing so helps in learning the concept of the line segment.
In geometry, a dot that shows the exact location, either a starting or ending, is called Point.
A straight figure which has a length but no width is called ‘line’.
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Now coming to the line segment, the part of the line which is bounded by the two different endpoints, and has all the points which are located in between these two points, is regarded as a line segment. If the line segment is closed, then it contains both the endpoints and if the line segment is open, then it excludes both the endpoints. In geometry, there is also a half-open line segment, and this type of line segment includes exactly one point. Usually, a line segment is denoted by drawing a line above the symbol.
What is a Ray?
A ray starts from one point and may continue till infinity, and hence it is not possible for us to measure the length of the ray.
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Types of Line Segment
There are four types of line segments. They are explained below.
1. Parallel Line
Two lines in the same plane either meeting each other or not. When two lines on the same plane do not meet each other at any point, it is known as a parallel line.
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2. Intersecting Lines
Intersecting lines are two or more lines crossing each other in a plane. They share a common point that exists on all the intersecting lines and is called the point of intersection.
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3. Concurrent Lines
When multiple lines pass through each other at the same given point is known as concurrent lines.
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4. Collinear Points
When there are three or more points on a single line, it is known as collinear points.
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Difference Between Line-Segment and Ray
1. Endpoints
A line segment has two endpoints.
A ray has one start point but no endpoint.
2. Length
A line segment has a definite length; therefore, it is measurable.
A ray has a start point but no endpoint; therefore, it cannot be measured.
3. Symbol
The symbol of a line segment is (_______).
The symbol of a ray is ().
In geometry, a line segment is written using letters for each of the endpoints. If your endpoints are A and B, you would then write it as line segment AB. For a ray, on the other hand, it starts at one point and goes on indefinitely in one single direction. This is also represented by AB but has a -> sign on its head (line and arrowhead). A line segment is written as AB with a line on its head (no arrowheads at either end).
FAQs on Line Segment and Ray
1. What is a Line, Line Segment and Ray?
A line is an infinite line with no starting and endpoint. It can stretch in both directions up to infinity. A line cannot be measured. A line segment is a definite line having two points, a start point, and an endpoint. It can be measured as it is decisive. A ray has a start point but no endpoint; it is like the light of a torch or a sun that originates from a point but does not end anywhere. It can go in multiple directions with only one starting point in another direction.
2. Does a Line Segment go on Forever?
A line is extensive, like a point having an infinite number of points (in a straight row). It can extend forever in both directions. Two lines can only intersect at one single point. We can get a line segment on a line when two points, i.e., start and endpoints, are marked. On the other hand, a ray is a geometrical figure that has a start source but has no end. However, a line segment has a fixed length, it has both the source and the end. Hence, a ray cannot be a part of the line segment, but a line segment can be a part of the ray.
3. Is understanding the concept of Line Segment and Ray difficult?
No, understanding the concept of the line concept and ray is not difficult at all. All you have to do is to advance in a systematic manner, that is to say, understand all the terminology which is used in the concept of line segment and ray, such as point and line. And then read all the other parts of the same in a good and thorough manner. And hence, if you study the concept of the line segment and ray in such a manner then you are not going to find it difficult at all.
4. Is it possible to extend the line segment?
Since the line segment has two endpoints it is not practically possible to extend it. Because the two endpoints are fixed and hence the line segment has a fixed length, there is no chance to extend it. But on the other hand, we can always extend the line in both directions because it does not have an endpoint. And on the part of the ray, it can also be extended but only from the one side, since it has a starting point.